Message from the Ag Commissioner
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Thank you Napa County for such a warm welcome. I am incredibly grateful to be back in Napa as your Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights & Measures.
The story of agriculture is an incredibly important one, whether we are talking about Napa County specifically or California as a whole. The Agricultural Commissioner’s Office has always been a big proponent of outreach and education and I intend to continue on that path. Farmers are familiar with the story of agriculture. My goal is to educate the entire Napa County community and share that amazing story of soil, water, and sun.
There is a lot of focus on urban farming, community gardens, and the general Ag/urban interface that we experience daily, as well as concerns over food insecurity and food waste. These are issues I’m dedicated to tackling, especially with the help of our
Napa County Local Food Advisory Council and the community as a whole.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to welcome me back into the community. I look forward to working with all of you and building those relationships.
Happy to be back Napa County,
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Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) Update
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No larger than 1/8 of an inch, the Asian Citrus Psyllid is a potent carrier of a devastating bacterial disease of shrubs and trees in the citrus family. The ACP and the plant disease it transmits by feeding on leaves and stems is believed to have originated in China, spreading eventually throughout Asia, India, and parts of Africa and South America. The disease is called Huanglongbing (HLB), or simply citrus greening. Affected citrus trees can show a blotchy mottling pattern on the leaves, and the fruit may be small, deformed, and of no commercial value. HLB is always fatal to the tree, usually within 3 to 5 years. Rapid identification and removal of infected trees is critical to prevent the spread of the disease.
Detecting the Asian Citrus Psyllid is also a critical component of controlling HLB. Since the ACP first appeared in San Diego, California in 2008, the California Department of Food and Agriculture launched a massive effort to suppress the spread of the insect and the disease it transmits. As an important part of this program, the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, along with other California counties, maintains an insect trapping program targeting the ACP. Beginning in November, 119 bright yellow “sticky panel” traps are placed in citrus trees throughout the county. Each month, these traps are carefully examined in a laboratory for ACP. While there have been no ACP detected in Napa County, there have been finds in the cities of Fairfield and Vallejo in Solano County. Quarantines were immediately established, but pest detection staff found no ACP beyond the original find locations. The Napa Agricultural Commissioner’s Office will maintain a strong ACP detection program to help protect California’s citrus crops of commercial and backyard growers alike.
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Farmers’ Markets
Saturday Napa Market to go Year Round!
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The Certified Farmers' Markets (CFMs) that operate in Napa, St. Helena, Calistoga, and at Long Meadow Ranch weekly host local producers as well as others from further afield in California. Growers stock their displays with seasonal fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, honey, nursery stock, cut flowers, and meat products of their own production. Information on locations and times of operation for each of the markets can be found at
Napa Local Food.com
This winter, the Saturday Napa CFM will join Calistoga as the second year round market in Napa County. That’s exciting news!
CFMs benefit both the agricultural community and consumers. At the markets, producers are exempt from the packing, sizing, and labeling requirements you would find in a traditional retail setting, but are still required to meet the quality and maturity standards that consumer’s desire. CFMs provide small family farms and local producers with the opportunity to market their product without the added costs of commercial preparation or the need to go through a produce broker. The high quality, fresh produce available at CFMs helps to create a diverse market and provides the consumer with the opportunity to meet the farmer and learn how their food is grown.
Regular inspections are conducted at each Certified Farmers’ Market throughout the season by Ag Commissioner staff. During a market inspection, staff will verify that each producer has a valid Certified Producers Certificate and is selling only those commodities they have grown. If you have any questions about the CFMs or want to learn how you can sell your products at one of our markets, please contact our office. And support our local producers by visiting the farmer’s market in the winter!
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Free Continuing Education Classes: Now Open
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Please join the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner's Office for our FREE annual continuing education classes. Please click the links below to register for each class. You may register up to four people per registration.
Wednesday, December 12th from 1:00 - 3:00 PM
APPROVED: 2 hours of "Laws & Regulations"
Topics:
Navigating CalAg Permits
Requirements for field worker and pesticide applicators
Thursday, January 24th - 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
APPROVED: 2 hours of "Laws & Regulations"
Topics:
Pesticide Regulatory Update
Most common violations during a headquarter inspection
Location
1710 Soscol Ave. Suit 3
UCCE Meeting Room
Napa, CA 94559
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Clases anuales de educación continua GRATUITAS
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La Oficina de Agricultura del Condado de Napa les invita a las clases GRATUITAS de educación continua que realizamos anualmente.
Por favor llame hoy mismo para registrarse al (707)253-4357
. Usted puede registrar hasta 4 personas a la vez.
Actualización para los agricultores en español:
jueves 15 de noviembre del 2018 de 9:00-11:00am
(APROBADO: 0.5 hora de “otros” + 1.5 horas de “Leyes & Regulaciones”)
Temas: Como navegar CalAg Permits
Identificación del Piojo de la Vid, Manejo Integrado de Plagas, etc.
Requerimientos para trabajadores de campos y aplicadores de pesticidas
Actualización para los agricultores en español:
jueves 24 de enero del 2019 de 9:00-11:00am
(APROBADO: 2 horas de “Leyes & Regulaciones”)
Temas: Las 10 violaciones más comunes a las regulaciones
Los requerimientos para una inspección de records
Lugar:
1710 Soscol Ave. Suit 3
Oficina del Comisionado de Agricultura/UCCE Meeting Room
Napa, CA 94559
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Retail Stores
Holiday Pricing Inspections
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The Napa County Weights and Measures Department has been busy inspecting scales for the wine industry, and we are almost finished for the season. We are beginning to shift our work load to other device inspection programs and our price verification program.
As consumers, we are reminded by the barrage of decorations, displays, and advertisements that the holiday season is upon us. From Black Friday specials around Thanksgiving, through the end of the holiday season, consumers are buying!
The Weights and Measures inspectors conduct price audits at over 375 stores within the County to protect consumers from price overcharges. Businesses that utilize electronic price lookup systems are required by ordinance to be registered with the Weights and Measures Department. Inspectors conduct annual inspections of these businesses to verify that the lowest advertised price is charged.
Depending on the number of checkout locations, inspectors select random items to check for pricing accuracy. In order for a store to pass our inspection, no more than 2% of the sample items can result in an overcharge. Some common errors include expired sale advertisements, items stocked with incorrect price, or shelf pricing not updated with electronic pricing changes. Businesses that don’t pass receive re-inspections until compliance is reached. Violations may lead to civil penalties until brought into compliance.
In addition, if you would like to submit a possible violation you can do so by completing a complaint form
click here.
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Renew early! Get those last-minute hours with help from UC IPM
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October is upon us and before you know it, we'll be wrapped up in the busy holiday season. If you hold a license or certificate from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and have a last name that begins with letters A through L, this is your year to renew. DPR encourages license and certificate holders to avoid the end-of-the-year rush and submit...
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John Cooledge , Deputy Agricultural Commissioner, graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a degree in agriculture. Following a ten-year stint as a produce clerk, he joined the Ag Commissioner’s Office in 1994. In his early years, John primarily worked in the pesticide programs and enjoyed managing the winegrape inspection program. More recently, his focused changed to the pest exclusion programs – helping to keep the glassy-winged sharpshooter out of Napa County and managing the dealings of the Napa County Winegrape Pest and Disease Control District.
John has enjoyed getting to know many of the growers over the years and appreciates working with such a cooperative and engaged agriculture industry. John thinks that our staff is top notch from diverse backgrounds, and said, “We have fun working together and we get the job done!”
During his off time, John enjoys camping and travelling with his wife and spending time with his two adult children, when they all can get together. John also finds joy riding his road and mountain bikes throughout Napa County and beyond.
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