CACASA

The California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association (CACASA) is a voluntary organization comprised of County Agricultural Commissioners and County Sealers of Weights and Measures from California’s 58 counties. CACASA provides the venue for collaborative opportunities to address matters of statewide significance that affect California’s agricultural production, its natural resources, marketing, food safety, equity, and public health as it relates to our environment.

County Agricultural Commissioners and County Sealers of Weights and Measures provide regulatory services through numerous programs that are coordinated with the United States Department of Food and Agriculture (USDA), California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR), a division of the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal-EPA). Each County Agricultural Commissioner and County Sealer of Weights and Measures is licensed by CDFA and appointed by the respective county’s Board of Supervisors.

The California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association shall be recognized as the official representative body on behalf of county agricultural commissioners and sealers.

2023-2024 Board of Directors

Officers

President

Lisa Herbert

Sutter County

President-Elect

Juan Hidalgo

Monterey County

Vice-President (Agriculture)

Melissa Cregan

Fresno County

Vice-President (Weights & Measures)

Kurt Floren

Los Angeles County

Secretary

Chris de Nijs

Nevada County

Treasurer

Tom Tucker

Tulare County

Past President

Jimmy Hook

Kings County

Executive Director

Lindsey Carter

CACASA Executive Director

Regional Board Members

Northern Counties

Craig Hemphill
Lassen County

Doni Rulofson
Tehama County

San Joaquin Valley

Rusty Lantsberger
Madera County

Monica Nielsen
Mariposa County

Sacramento Valley

Chris Flores
Sacramento County

Kelle Schroeder
Tuolumne County

Southern California

Jose Arriaga
Orange County

Brady Gergovich
San Bernardino County

Coast

Matt Slattengren
Contra Costa County

Cathy Roache
Alameda County

2023 CACASA Group

Our Programs

SCALE INSPECTIONS

We ensure accuracy by inspecting and testing all commercial scales used to determine value.

METER INSPECTIONS

We inspect and test all water, electric, and natural gas sub-meters, gas pumps and propane dispensers used for commerce.

PETROLEUM

We protect consumers by sampling fuel quality, inspecting labeling of petroleum products and service station advertising.

QUANTITY CONTROL

We inspect packaged commodities to ensure accuracy with labeling and stated weight, which includes test purchases.

PRICE VERIFICATION

We conduct point of sale system inspections to protect consumers and ensure they receive the advertised price.

RESOLVE COMPLAINTS

We investigate complaints including price accuracy, short weight and measure, deceptive packaging, fuel contamination and more.

PEST PREVENTION

Our insect trapping and plant inspection programs prevent the introduction or spread of new, exotic and destructive pests.

PEST MANAGEMENT

We manage numerous programs to protect California from insect, disease, weed and vertebrate pests.

PESTICIDE USE ENFORCEMENT

We ensure the safe use of pesticides through training, outreach, inspections, and investigations.

FOOD QUALITY CONTROL

We regulate organic growers, certified producers, farmers’ markets and egg handlers to ensure compliance.

NURSERY REGULATION

We ensure that all nursery stock produced or sold in California meets strict quality standards.

CROP STATISTICS

Every county creates an annual crop report which details the quantity and value of crops, livestock and poultry production.

County Agricultural Commissioner

During California’s period of rapid expansion at the end of the nineteenth century, settlers brought not only their families but also brought with them trees and vines for planting, some of which were infested with insect and disease pests. This created so many problems for the state’s farmers that in 1881 the California Legislature provided counties with the authority to establish local Boards of Horticultural Commissioners in an effort to protect the state’s burgeoning tree and vine industries from these new pests. In 1920, with the development of the State Department of Agriculture, the legislature brought the several County Horticultural Commissioners and their deputies under the direction of the Director of Agriculture.

State law now requires every county to have an agricultural commissioner who is appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Each County Agricultural Commissioner (CAC) must manage a regulatory agency serving under the program direction of the California Secretary of Agriculture and the Director of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

Since the inception of the horticultural commissioner system, not only the name has changed, but the duties and responsibilities have as well. During the course of the past 120 years, this system has become more complex, yet remains flexible enough to address local issues. Recognizing that working collaboratively with other county agricultural commissioners was critical in addressing regional problems, the Association of Agricultural Commissioners was established in 1922. In 1988 the association combined with the California Association of Weights and Measures Officials to establish the present California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association.

Responsibilities and Duties

Each agricultural commissioner is charged with the protection and promotion of California’s agriculture, the protection of the environment as well as protection of the public’s health and safety. These goals are accomplished through the management of programs designed to achieve our mission through public outreach and numerous enforcement tools.

County Sealer of Weights and Measures

California consumers have received protection from the use of false weights and measures since 1915 when the state’s legislature established that each county shall have a Sealer of Weights and Measures. In most counties since 1970, the functions of the County Sealer of Weights and Measures have been combined with those of the County Agricultural Commissioner. Under the general direction of the Secretary of Food and Agriculture through the Division of Measurement Standards (DMS), and in cooperation with various federal, state, and local jurisdictions, the County Sealer inspects, tests, and certifies to the accuracy of numerous devices, functions, and activities associated with commerce.

Functions and Activities

County weights and measures officials (Sealers) serve all consumers as the local regulatory agency authorized to enforce the California Business and Professions Code and the California Code of Regulations pertaining to issues of “Equity in the Marketplace”. This enforcement efficiently and effectively protects local commerce, thus encouraging stability in the State’s economy. Sealers annually perform thousands of inspections on various commercial devices, check packages for net content, review weighmaster records for accuracy, provide training and education to businesses and individuals, in addition to any number of other activities designed to assure “Equity in the Marketplace.” In virtually any transaction you may make, your weights and measures official serves as the “third party” protecting both business and the consumer.