Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (2024)

FAQs

What does the Florida Department of agricultural and Consumer Services do? ›

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services supports and promotes Florida agriculture, protects the environment, safeguards consumers, and ensures the safety and wholesomeness of food.

The Division of Consumer Services of the Florida Department of Agriculture maintains a toll-free statewide consumer hot line — 800-435-7352 — to handle questions and complaints.

Wilton Simpson, Florida's 13th Commissioner of Agriculture, is a fifth-generation Floridian, proud to be born and raised in the Sunshine State.

USDA stands for U.S. Department of Agriculture and is a federal agency that Abraham Lincoln founded in 1862. The USDA is responsible for overseeing farming, ranching, and forestry industries, as well as regulating aspects of food quality and safety and nutrition labeling.

What We Do. We provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management.

Florida Attorney General's hotline helps victims of any type of fraud or unfair trade practices get the assistance they need; toll-Free 1-866-966-7226. Once at the Florida Bar website, click on "Consumer Services;" also see fee arbitration program, fee mediation program.

As the nation's consumer protection agency, the FTC takes reports about scammers that cheat people out of money and businesses that don't make good on their promises. We share these reports with our law enforcement partners and use them to investigate fraud and eliminate unfair business practices.

The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General is the civil enforcement authority for violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and related laws.

Do you need an appointment for the Department of Agriculture in Florida? ›

Appointments are preferred and will receive first priority.

Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services | Food and Nutrition Service.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an executive department of the United States federal government that aims to meet the needs of commercial farming and livestock food production, promotes agricultural trade and production, works to assure food safety, protects natural resources, fosters rural ...

In order to qualify for the exemption, the property must be in agricultural use as of January 1 of the given year in which the owner wishes to file. The owner will have two months to submit the application and supporting documentation to their county tax assessor – the deadline is March 1 of the given year.

The Consumer Services Unit (CSU) is where the complaint process begins. It is the central intake for all complaints, including complaints alleging the practice of a healthcare profession or the operation of facilities/establishments without the appropriate license.

Florida's climate makes it ideal for growing a variety of crops. Among Florida's top agricultural products are oranges, greenhouse and nursery products, cane for sugar, and cattle and calves. Florida's recognized signature crop is citrus.

Cash Receipts 2021

The leading crop commodities were floriculture (14.4% of all cash receipts), sugarcane for sugar and seed (9.7%), oranges (9.1%), and tomatoes for fresh market (4.2%).

We represent farm families who produce all 300 of the state's agricultural commodities, regardless of their scope of operations or location. The Florida Farm Bureau Federation's mission is to be “one voice advocating for viable farm families and enriching the quality of life for all Floridians.”