Florida Department of Agriculture

What Florida Department of Agriculture does

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is the executive-branch state agency of Florida, established in 1868 and headquartered in Tallahassee, charged with regulating agriculture, ensuring food safety, protecting consumers, managing state forests, and administering concealed-weapon licensing. The department operates 23 agricultural inspection stations on 19 major highways at Florida's borders (24/7/365), enforces Chapter 570 of the Florida Statutes, runs the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and the Division of Food Safety (analyzing 15,000+ food samples annually), administers school nutrition programs serving over 1 million meals daily, and manages more than 1 million acres of state forests through the Florida Forest Service. Specialized programs include Apiary Inspection, the 3D Printing Lab and Fruit Fly Methods Development Lab under the Science Division, hemp cultivation licensing, aquaculture certification, agricultural best-management-practices programs, and concealed-weapon license services via an online portal.

FDACS's service portfolio is funded primarily through Florida state appropriations supplemented by licensing and permit fees (food establishments, agricultural dealers, pest control, petroleum, weights and measures, LP gas, concealed weapons) and federal pass-throughs (USDA-administered school nutrition programs). The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has secured over $1.1 billion in state funding since 2022, including $425 million in the 2026/2027 budget, and has permanently preserved more than 240,000 acres of working agricultural land through rural lands protection easements. The Fresh From Florida brand promotes 300 agricultural commodities domestically and internationally. Customer segments comprise all Florida residents and consumers (food safety, complaint resolution), agricultural producers (pest/disease protection, marketing, land preservation), regulated businesses (licensing/permits/fines), and Florida schools (nutrition programs). Distribution is multi-channel: 23 physical inspection stations, an online licensing/payment portal, statewide call centers (1-800-HELP-FLA and a Spanish-language line), 12 state farmers markets, and field inspectors across all divisions. Commissioner Wilton Simpson, Florida's 13th Commissioner of Agriculture (took office 2023), leads the department with stated priorities of securing Florida agriculture, prioritizing Florida-grown food, defending Second Amendment rights, and defining agriculture as a national security issue.

Name

Florida Department of Agriculture

Legal name

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Website

https://fdacs.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1868

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is a state government agency that regulates agriculture, ensures food safety, protects consumers, manages 1+ million acres of state forests, runs 23 border inspection stations, administers nutrition programs serving 1M+ meals daily, and preserves working agricultural land, serving all Florida residents, producers, and regulated businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Agricultural Regulatory Services

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Testing, Laboratory Oversight & Method Standards (HLAJAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regulatory Compliance Testing (Microbiological, Chemical, Allergen) (AFALADAA), Pesticide & Agricultural Chemical Health Regulators (HLAJAFAG), Environmental Protection Agencies & Environmental Health Departments (HLAJAFAA), Regulatory Submissions, Registrations & Facility Approvals (FDA/USDA/EU) (AFALADAD)

Keywords

• Agricultural inspection services
• Food safety regulation
• Consumer protection services
• Forest and wildfire management
• Agricultural licensing permits

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallahassee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. State Government Appropriations: Primary funding from Florida state budget appropriations through legislative appropriations to support department operations, programs, and services for Florida's agriculture industry, consumers, and environmental protection.
2. Licensing and Permit Fees: Revenue generated from issuing various business licenses, permits, and registrations including food establishment permits, concealed weapon licenses, agricultural dealer licenses, and numerous other regulatory permits. Fees support regulatory enforcement operations.
3. Rural and Family Lands Protection Program: State funding for purchasing development rights through rural lands protection easements. Since 2022, over $1.1 billion in state funding secured, including $425 million in 2026/2027 state budget.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FDACS is a Florida state government department that supports and promotes Florida agriculture, protects the environment, safeguards consumers, and ensures the safety and quality of food. Its core functions include operating 23 agricultural inspection stations at Florida's borders, conducting food safety testing on more than 15,000 samples annually, managing over 1 million acres of state forests, issuing regulatory licenses and permits, administering school nutrition programs serving over 1 million meals daily, and preserving working agricultural lands.

Product overview

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is a government department offering a broad portfolio of regulatory, promotional, and service programs rather than a unified commercial product. The core offerings include: (1) The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement operating 23 agricultural inspection stations statewide; (2) Food Safety Program analyzing over 15,000 food samples annually; (3) Division of Plant Industry protecting against plant pests and diseases; (4) Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (BADDL) for livestock health testing; (5) Florida Forest Service managing over 1 million acres of state forests; (6) Rural and Family Lands Protection Program having preserved over 240,000 acres; (7) Fresh From Florida marketing brand for agricultural producers; (8) Online Payment and Registration Portal for licenses and permits; (9) School Nutrition Programs serving over 1 million meals daily; (10) Consumer Complaint Filing System; (11) Concealed Weapon License Services; and (12) various specialty programs including Apiary Inspection, Aquaculture Certification, Hemp Cultivation Licensing, and Agricultural Best Management Practices. These operate as separate service areas rather than an integrated platform architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fresh From Florida: Agricultural promotional program showcasing Florida-grown products, agritourism destinations, and seasonal recipes.
• Florida Forest Service
• Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE)
• Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (BADDL)

Products and services

• Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) with 23 Agricultural Inspection Stations Law enforcement division responsible for enforcing agricultural laws including livestock, poultry, aquaculture, farms, citrus, horticultural goods, and protecting against trespassing, littering, forest fires, and theft of forest products. Operates 23 inspection stations strategically located on 19 major highways at Florida's entry and exit points, operating 24/7/365 to prevent plant and animal pests, diseases, and unsafe food from entering Florida.
• Food Safety Program / Division of Food Safety As Florida's lead agency for food safety, FDACS analyzes more than 15,000 food samples each year testing for toxins, allergens, chemical contaminants, pesticide residues, food additives, and fraudulent formulations. Inspects grocery stores, convenience stores, and bakeries for cleanliness and safety, and regulates food establishments through permits and plan reviews.
• Apiary Inspection Program Florida apiary inspectors monitor honey bee colonies for diseases, honey bee pests, and unwanted bee species, including the Honey Bee Diagnostics Laboratory.
• Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (BADDL) Provides scientific expertise in detection and investigation of animal diseases affecting livestock, pets, and public health with client portal, sample submission, and lab testing services.
• Rural and Family Lands Protection Program Preserves working agricultural land through rural lands protection easements preventing future development while allowing agricultural operations to continue, having preserved over 240,000 acres.
• Florida Forest Service Manages over 1 million acres of state forest land for multiple uses including timber, wildlife habitat, and recreation, and protects homes, forestland, and natural resources from wildfire.
• Fresh From Florida Marketing, promotional, and advertising program helping Florida agricultural producers with branding, logo use guidelines, and membership benefits for promoting Florida agricultural products including agritourism destinations, seasonal recipes, and peak-season produce information.
• Online Payment and Registration Portal Centralized online system for making payments and registering for/renewing licenses across numerous categories including agricultural products, food safety, forestry, petroleum, weights and measures, and more.
• School Nutrition Programs Assists Florida's schools in serving more than a million healthful meals each day through National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Special Milk Program.
• Concealed Weapon License Services Online system for Florida residents and non-residents to apply for, renew, or manage concealed weapon and firearm licenses.
• Division of Plant Industry Responsible for protecting Florida's native and commercially grown plants from harmful pests and diseases through inspections, permits, and compliance programs.
• Hemp Cultivation Licensing Licensing program for hemp intended for commercial products, nursery stock, or research under commercial Cultivation License or Industrial Hemp Pilot Project Permit.
• State Farmers Markets Florida's 12 state farmers markets assisting in the marketing of farm products across the state.
• Aquaculture Certificate of Registration Certification program for aquaculture operations including shellfish harvesting area classification, submerged land leasing, and species-specific programs for food fish, crustaceans, and ornamental species.
• Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) Programs helping farmers implement best management practices to conserve water and prevent water pollution, including Agricultural Water Field Services and Water Resource Agricultural Permit Exemption Determinations.
• Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Emergency Loan Program Low-interest or interest-free loans to growers who have experienced damage from declared natural disasters.
• Exporting Florida Agricultural Products Services Toolkit and assistance helping Florida agricultural producers navigate complexities of global trade and export requirements.
• Consumer Complaint Filing System Online portal for filing complaints about businesses, food products, food businesses, private investigation, private security, recovery services, and FDACS employees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 240,000 acres of working agricultural land permanently preserved from development
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United States Air Force (USAF) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026The USAF REPI program provided $2.32 million in funding for the Dixie Ranch West rural lands protection easement as part of the Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape Program, demonstrating federal-state partnership for land preservation near military installations.
• Manatee CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Manatee County provided $1.5 million in funding for the Thundercloud Ranch rural lands protection easement, a local government partnership to preserve agricultural land in the county.
• Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund (Governor and Cabinet)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026The Governor and Cabinet, sitting as the Board of Trustees, approve rural lands protection easements through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. This state-level approval body has permanently preserved over 240,000 acres of working agricultural land.
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026USDA confirmed the detection of New World Screwworm in South Texas. FDACS coordinates closely with USDA and federal partners for animal health monitoring, emergency response, and agricultural disease surveillance. USDA programs administered through FDACS include National School Lunch Program and other food assistance programs.
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFDACS works with FWC for wildlife disease reporting. Suspected screwworm infestations in wildlife should be reported to FWC at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) or via email to [email protected].

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• California Department of Food and Agriculture: California's state agriculture department with comparable regulatory authority over food safety, plant industry, animal health, and agricultural inspections. Operates similarly as a state executive branch agency with multiple divisions and statutory enforcement powers.
• Texas Department of Agriculture: Texas state agriculture department performing comparable functions in food safety regulation, agricultural marketing, and consumer protection. Faces similar biosecurity and emergency response challenges given its geographic scale and proximity to NWS-affected regions.
• Georgia Department of Agriculture: Georgia's state agriculture agency with parallel responsibilities in food safety, plant industry, animal health, and consumer protection. Operates comparable licensing, inspection, and laboratory testing programs for a major Southeastern agriculture economy.
• New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets: New York's state agriculture department with equivalent regulatory scope including food safety inspection, plant industry, animal disease diagnostics, and consumer protection. Comparable multi-division structure and statutory authority model.
• North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Sister Southeastern state agriculture department with comparable scope including food and drug protection, plant industry, animal health, and consumer services divisions. Operates research stations and farmers markets under similar statutory framework.

Broad incumbents

• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): Federal counterpart with overlapping authority over food safety (FSIS), animal and plant health inspection (APHIS), and agricultural marketing. FDACS coordinates closely with USDA on school nutrition programs, animal disease surveillance, and biosecurity response.

Regional players

• Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries: Neighboring state agriculture agency sharing border inspection dynamics with FDACS through Highway 231 station 20 (currently under expansion). Comparable regulatory functions across food safety, plant industry, and animal health domains.

Others

• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC): Partner state agency for wildlife disease reporting and ecosystem management within Florida. FDACS and FWC coordinate on New World Screwworm surveillance and broader agricultural-wildlife interface issues.
• Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO): National association of state food and drug regulatory officials that FDACS participates in. Provides peer benchmarking and standards harmonization across state food safety programs comparable to FDACS's Division of Food Safety.
• National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA): Umbrella organization representing state agriculture departments including FDACS. Provides coordination, advocacy, and policy alignment across state agriculture regulatory bodies, making it a meta-level peer and governance counterpart.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/flplantindustry
• Facebookfacebook.com/floridaagriculture
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/florida-department-of-agriculture-and-consumer-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Florida Department of Agriculture