The Agricultural Commissioner, in collaboration with CDFA, enforces laws to maintain standards of quality for certain agricultural commodities. The goals of standardization are to assure consumers that they are purchasing commodities at a level of acceptable quality, to protect and promote agricultural industries of California, and to remove from the channels of trade agricultural commodities that do not comply with minimum standards. California standardization laws establish minimum standards for maturity, quality, size, standard container and pack, and container markings.

Quality and Standardization Commodity List and Assessment Rates

Produce Inspection Programs

Head Lettuce Inspection Program: Monterey County, through the local ordinance that was initiated by the agricultural industry, requires that all head lettuce be inspected annually for IRQ (Identity/Responsibility/Quantity) as well as size, maturity and standard container requirements.

Other Commodity Inspections: Monterey County, in contract with CDFA, conducts inspections of randomly selected operations that grow or handle certain agricultural commodities for IRQ, quality, size, maturity and standard container requirements. The Monterey County FY2010-2011 Commodity Inspection List includes: artichokes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, and leaf lettuce, farm stands/retail markets, flea market vendors, salad products/food service items, and wholesale dealers.

Agricultural Product Source and Labeling Program (Theft Prevention)

State law requires that agricultural products are packed and shipped in standardized containers with labels containing appropriate producer information. County Ordinance requires that all retail establishments, restaurants, flea markets and roadside vendors that sell agricultural products must be inspected and provide proof of purchase of the commodities they sell.

County Agricultural Statistics (Crop Report)

Since 1929, the Agricultural Commissioner has collected and compiled annual county agricultural statistics to produce the annual crop report.