Agriculture Program Home

The Agricultural Program protects health and safety by enforcing agricultural laws and regulations through inspection, monitoring, permitting and licensing. This program prevents the introduction of exotic pests that are harmful to California agriculture.

 

Principal Activities and Services

• Monitors pest conditions in agricultural and horticultural settings in San Francisco, including wholesale nurseries.
• Manages the orderly burning of agricultural crop residues to minimize the impact on urban areas, and works with producers to find alternative methods of agricultural waste removal.
• Compiles crop statistics and publishes the annual San Francisco County Agricultural Crop Report.
• Provide public and industry education on safe pesticide usage and best practices in pest management.
• Certify local farmers markets.

 

Becoming a Certified Farmers Market

The San Francisco Department of Public Health's Agriculture Program is the local enforcement agency for the state Certified Farmers Market Program.

To become a certified farmers market:

1. Complete the Application for Certified Farmers Market Certificate.
2. Pay the appropriate certificate fee by check or money order payable to the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
3. Send the completed application and fee to:
• Environmental Health Branch
• Attn: Agriculture Program
• 49 South Van Ness Ave., Suite 600
• San Francisco, CA 94103
4. Farmers markets must also obtain a permit to operate from the SFDPH Food Safety program. The Food Safety Program will only accept applications for a permit to operate if prior application has been made and accepted by the Agriculture Program.
5. In addition, Farmers Market managers need to fulfill all requirements of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

 

Urban Agricultural Incentive Program

In accordance with California Government Code 51040 (Urban Agriculture Incentives Zone Act), the City and County of San Francisco has established a local program for the Act.

 

Urban agriculture provides many benefits to citizens of San Francisco through education about food, nutrition, and the environment; addressing sustainability goals; building community; creating green spaces, and benefiting the local economy. An Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones Contract is a voluntary contract between the City and a property owner where the property owner agrees to keep their property in active agricultural use for a set period of time in exchange for a tax benefit from the City. Applicants for an Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones Contract must demonstrate that they will benefit the larger community through produce distribution and/or sales, open house days, educational tours, or other public programs. The City’s Agricultural Commissioner executes the contract and administers the program.

 

Please refer to the Application Packet for Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone for more information, including a description of who may apply for an Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone, the application process, and application materials.

 

For questions, please contact Cree Morgan at (415) 252-3950.

 

 

 

 

 

Making a Complaint

If you would like to make a complaint related to the agriculture program, you may call 311.