What We Do
The Marin County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures operates under the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR). The department strives to promote and protect agriculture, the environment, and the residents of Marin County through the following programs:
Divisions and Programs
Agriculture, Weights and Measures has implemented a cross departmental disaster preparedness program (“Ag Pass”). The goal of Ag Pass is to provide a uniform pathway for commercial Agricultural Producers to identify themselves to emergency front line personnel (firefighters, law enforcement, etc.) and potentially be allowed access into evacuation zones to care for commercial animals and crops and tend to agricultural infrastructure needs.
Certified Farmers’ Markets of Marin County
We inspect farmers at local Certified Farmers’ Markets, verifying that the fruits and vegetables they sell are grown at their farms. We also help farmers become Certified Producers by inspecting the fields at the farm.
Every year the Marin County Director of Weights and Measures releases a report on consumer protection activities in the county. The Marin County Department of Weights and Measures is committed to protecting the interests of the consumer by ensuring equity in the marketplace. The Consumer Protection Report highlights some of the consumer protection services that the Department of Weights and Measures provides to the residents, visitors, and businesses of Marin.
The Department prepares and publishes an annual Crop & Livestock Report. The report is a summary of counts, acreage, yields, and the gross value of agricultural production in Marin County. A special report on the Total Economic Contributions of Marin County Agriculture can be found here.
This Department inspects certified growing sites and certified farmers' markets to preserve the integrity of the direct marketing program, including issuing certified producer's certificates to each producer that sells at a market.
The intent of this program is to protect livestock (young cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry) through cost-share funding to improve non-lethal methods including fencing and promoting the use of guard protection animals.
Marin Organic Certified Agriculture (MOCA)
MOCA serves local farmers who are promoting organic farming practices. The main duty of MOCA is to uphold the standards of the USDA National Organic Program and and to ensure that consumers are provided with verifiably organic products.. Organic farmers strive to be in harmony with nature while growing food.
Plant, Nursery and Seed Inspection
Through this program, the Department of Agriculture inspects plants that are grown and sold at local nurseries. This is to assure that nursery products are labeled properly, pest free, and healthy. Seeds are also inspected at wholesale and retail sales locations, ensuring that seed lots are labeled correctly and accurately.
Pest prevention involves pest exclusion and pest detection. Under the pest exclusion program, Marin County agricultural inspectors check packages that are shipped to Marin County, working to prevent the entry harmful of pests. Pest detection is the preventative search for pests outside of an infested area. Examples of pests of concern include the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter, European Grapevine Moth, Spongy Moth, Japanese Beetle, and Med-Fly.
The function of this program is to ensure proper use of pest control methods and pesticides for the protection of public health and the environment. This is achieved through a permit process and through monitoring pesticide use, responding to pesticide incidents and complaints, and educating users of pesticides on safe pesticide application processes.
Vineyard Erosion and Sediment Control
The Vineyard Erosion and Sediment Control (VESCO) program was established to protect public health, safety, and welfare by minimizing erosion and sedimentation in connection with vineyard planting and re-planting in Marin.
Weeds can have a harmful effect on agriculture and the environment. Agricultural Inspectors help identify harmful weeds in Marin County and work to minimize their damage to the environment.
We ensure equity in the marketplace through our Weights and Measures programs. This includes verifying:
- Consumers are being charged the lowest advertised or posted price for items at any store using a Point of Sale system (bar code readers, scanners, or price look-up systems)
- Packaged commodities contain the amount stated on the label
- Gas stations are providing the correct amount of fuel (a gallon is actually a gallon)
- Free Air and Water is available at gas stations
- Taxi meters are accurately calculating the fare
- Propane dispensers are delivering the correct amount of Liquid Propane Gas (LPG)
- Scales used at grocery stores, recycle centers, and other locations around the county are accurate within the tolerances set by the Department of Food and Agriculture, Division of Measurement Standards (DMS)
- Devices of all types used for commercial purposes in Marin County are approved for use by DMS prior to being put into service