If you were to ask a room full of children what they want to be when they grow up, you would likely hear answers, such as doctor, astronaut, athlete, maybe even influencer in this modern age driven by social media. Chances are, “agricultural commissioner” won’t make the list.
Yet many of the men and women who eventually find themselves in these roles arrive there through a shared passion for agriculture. Whether they grew up on farms, loved animals as a kid or discovered agriculture through their careers, many are driven by the same goal: supporting and protecting California’s most vital industry.
Tulare County Assistant Agricultural Commissioner Christopher Greer was born and raised in the county he now represents, embodying that very dedication.
“I always grew up around agriculture,” said Greer. “I lived down the road from my family’s dairy farm, was heavily involved in Future Farmers of America in school and went on to be on a national judging team for dairy in college.”
After graduating from Fresno State University with a degree in agricultural business, he took a trainee position as an Agricultural Standards Inspector with Tulare County. Over time, he learned more about laws and regulations as he continued down this career path—and the road to commissioner is not a short one.
“To be able to move up through the ranks, there are quite a few exams we have to take. There are eight inspector exams, licensing exams through the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), then there are written and oral exams for deputy commissioner and then again for the Commissioner Sealer exam. So, you have to pass all these exams to even be qualified for the position.”
The scope of the position is nothing if not extensive. County offices administer programs related to pest prevention and exclusion, export certification, crop statistics, weights and measures, apiary protection, nursery inspection and consumer protection, among others—making the commissioner’s office one of the broadest and most practical resources available to California growers.
In Tulare County, one of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions, those responsibilities are amplified by the sheer volume and diversity of agricultural production.
“We have over 44 commodities that produce more than a million dollars in gross production,” said Greer. “Not only do we grow so much, but we’re also a hub for a lot of the surrounding counties.”
According to Greer, Tulare County exports products to approximately 90 countries and issues roughly 33,000 phytosanitary certificates each year. Required by many foreign governments, these certificates verify that agricultural shipments meet importing countries’ plant health requirements. Without them, products don’t move.
In neighboring Fresno County, Agricultural Commissioner Melissa Cregan explained what many growers may not realize is that California is unique in how that certification process works: the county commissioner’s office certifies shipments at their origin.
“Our staff actually writes all of those export certificates for everything going to all the various countries that it gets shipped to,” said Cregan.
Most states, by comparison, inspect and certify agricultural products at the port of exit. By that time, if problems are discovered, growers may have already incurred transportation costs and logistical challenges.
“You don’t want to ship your product all the way to the port, have them inspect it, and then find something that’s not going to allow it to be exported to that country,” said Cregan. “And now what do you do with it?”
By certifying shipments at the source, commissioners help growers avoid costly disruptions while keeping agricultural products moving efficiently through domestic and international supply chains.
This is just one example of how California’s system of having a dedicated ag commissioner for each county allows growers to have a more localized support system.
The Front Lines of Defense
Facilitating trade is just one important function of the office; much of a commissioner’s day-to-day work centers on protecting crops from pests and diseases that threaten agricultural production.
Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo, who also served in the same role in Santa Cruz County for seven years, oversees one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. With more than 150 commodities grown across the county and a growing season that stretches nearly year-round, preventing the spread of pests and diseases remains a constant priority.
“Staying engaged and communicating is a must,” said Hidalgo. “Conversations around regulation can be difficult, but at the end of the day, we want to make sure growers have all the information they need to make sure they’re in compliance.”
Hidalgo explained, “If growers don’t begin to take the steps necessary to control pest and disease pressure early on, it can really have significant impacts later in the summer and fall months, because that pressure just continues to build.”
One growing concern for the region is diamondback moth (DBM), a pest that attacks brassica crops. Hidalgo said current pesticide tools have become less effective against the pest, prompting the county to work with state and industry partners to expedite approval of new chemistries while exploring biological and mechanical control options.
“This science would help our growers combat DBM in the future and give us some reprieve as industry experts continue to develop other tools that can help deter the pest,” said Hidalgo.
Monterey County also maintains a unique local ordinance designed to combat lettuce mosaic virus (LMV). Each December, a two-week host-free period prohibits lettuce planting throughout the county, reducing opportunities for the disease to persist and spread. Hidalgo’s office is responsible for ensuring growers are aware of and comply with the requirement each season.
“Growers have a tremendous responsibility to feed our nation, and we want to be sure we are doing the educational outreach necessary to make sure everyone is on the same page for compliance,” said Hidalgo.
For commissioners, however, pest management is not only about responding to current threats; it’s about preventing future ones.
Greer pointed to the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), an invasive insect that spreads Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease, as a clear example of why early detection and coordinated response efforts matter.
The disease has devastated citrus production in Florida, where the industry continues to struggle with its long-term impacts. In California, commissioners are on the front lines of monitoring, grower coordination and early response efforts aimed at preventing the disease from gaining the same foothold.
Tulare County alone maintains more than 10,000 insect traps at any given time as part of that effort.
“Sadly, we have it in California, but we are fighting hard to keep it at bay,” said Greer.
While the threats facing Monterey County’s vegetable industry may differ from those confronting Tulare County’s citrus growers, the underlying mission remains the same: identify risks early, providing growers with the tools and information they need and protecting agricultural production before problems become widespread.
58 Counties, One Mission
The role of an ag commissioner looks a little different in every corner of the state, which is precisely why California relies on this county-based system.
Cregan, outgoing president of the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association (CACASA), said balancing these local needs with statewide consistency is one of the profession’s greatest challenges—and one of its greatest strengths.
“Uniformity can be difficult because we all have different commodities and different sized counties,” said Cregan.
CACASA helps bridge those differences by bringing commissioners representing all 58 counties together to coordinate enforcement, discuss emerging issues and share how statewide decisions affect individual regions. The association divides the state into five area groups that meet monthly, giving commissioners and their deputies an opportunity to exchange best practices and address challenges before they become larger problems.
“It brings us all together,” said Cregan. “It provides the forum to share those impacts and discuss how statewide decisions affect counties that may be very different from one another.”
While enforcement remains an important part of the job, all three commissioners emphasized that compliance, not citations, is the ultimate goal.
County offices regularly host educational workshops, continuing education opportunities and regulatory updates while also serving as a resource for growers seeking guidance on specific questions.
In Tulare County, Greer’s team hosts “Pest Day,” an annual community event that drew around 450 attendees this year, including growers, school district staff, applicators, farmworkers and community members, for a half-day of education on current pest pressures, regulations and safe chemical handling.
“We’re very committed to helping folks stay educated and be in compliance,” said Greer.
That philosophy shapes much of the day-to-day interaction between commissioners’ offices and growers.
Greer said many growers are surprised to learn commissioners are willing to provide assistance—even informal, compliance-focused walkthroughs—before problems arise. In his 15 years in the field, he said that offer has never once overwhelmed an office with calls. He’d welcome the day it does.
“If everything comes up and we roll up to an inspection and everything’s great, that means we’re doing something right on education and continuing outreach,” said Greer.
Cregan echoed that sentiment, encouraging growers to view their local commissioner’s office as a partner rather than simply an enforcement agency.
“I would love to see a relationship with our farming community where they look at us as a resource of knowledge and are willing to come ask those questions,” she said.
As California agriculture continues to navigate evolving regulations, emerging pest threats and growing public scrutiny, agricultural commissioners remain one of the industry’s most pivotal support systems.
Their work touches nearly every stage of production, from helping prevent invasive pests and diseases to facilitating exports, ensuring marketplace fairness and providing growers with the tools and information needed to remain compliant and competitive.
Much of that work happens quietly, and success is often measured by what doesn’t happen: a pest outbreak that never spreads, a shipment that reaches its destination without delay or a grower who avoids a costly compliance issue because they asked a question before a problem developed.
Greer insisted that growers should know their commissioner by name—and shouldn’t hesitate to call.
“Do you know your ag commissioner? You should. Call them up; they’ll do whatever you need. That’s their job.”
At its core, the mission, as Greer puts it, has never changed: to protect and promote agriculture, and to support the growers who make California’s food system possible.
Note: California growers looking to better understand the resources available to them are encouraged to contact their local county agricultural commissioner’s office or visit the CACASA website.