History Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

fdacs florida forest service manages florida s 35 state forests, including lake george state forest in volusia county.

the florida constitution of 1868 provided creation of office of commissioner of immigration, duties consisted of attracting settlers engage in agriculture. florida constitution amended in 1871 consolidate offices of surveyor general , commissioner of immigration new commissioner of lands , immigration. in 1885, constitution revised , commissioner of lands , immigration post renamed commissioner of agriculture. duties of commissioner of agriculture revised include supervision of state prisons. (a division of corrections created in 1957 , state prisons removed list of commissioner of agriculture responsibilities).

florida scales used in trade, hospital cafeteria checkout scale in port charlotte, inspected accuracy division of standards bureau of weights , measures.

the agricultural services reorganization act (asra) passed in 1959 , became effective january 15, 1961. state law abolished independent boards , bureaus, assigned department of agriculture s divisions. these included: administration, animal industry, dairy industry, fruit , vegetable inspection, marketing, plant industry, inspection , standards. state chemist, position existed since 1891, moved new division of chemistry.

the legislature created office of consumer services in 1967. executive reorganization act of 1969 renamed office of consumer services division of consumer services , board of forestry division of forestry. department of agriculture renamed department of agriculture , consumer services (fdacs).

the 1992 legislature passed chapter 92-291 of laws of florida, formally organized department of agriculture , consumer services following divisions: administration, agricultural environmental services (aes), animal industry, plant industry, marketing , development, dairy industry, food safety, fruit , vegetables, consumer services, forestry, standards, aquaculture, , licensing.

in addition above divisions, fdacs includes separate offices agricultural law enforcement, agricultural water policy, agricultural emergency preparedness, inspector general, commissioner of agriculture.

the florida department of agriculture , consumer services building in tallahassee.