South San Francisco, San Mateo County Celebrates 44th Annual National Ag Day

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — San Mateo County’s high-tech culture provides much food for thought, but what about the local industry that creates food for life?

Monday marked the 44th annual National Ag Day which celebrates the producers and the crops they grow both in the county and worldwide. In recognition of the day, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors recently presented a proclamation honoring the occasion to Agriculture Commissioner/Sealer Fred Crowder.

“Agriculture is really the backbone of any community because as this year’s theme ‘Food for Life’ suggests, food is the primary building block of life. In San Mateo County, agriculture is particularly important because it generates millions of dollars in revenue, hundreds of thousands of pounds of produce and foliage and employs thousands on our coast,” Crowder said.

In response, the County continues to support its agricultural community through programs like “As Fresh As It Gets” and the Agricultural Ombudsman, and through outreach, education and regulation to ensure agricultural products are safe and wholesome.

Crowder said many in the county may be surprised to learn just how much agriculture is present in San Mateo County, particularly in the southern portion.

Did you know:

• The county had an estimated agricultural production value of $132 million, per the 2015 Annual Crop Report. The 2016 report will be released this summer
• Brussel sprouts are not just good for your health, they’re good for the economy. They are the county’s highest valued vegetable crop, worth $15.2 million and contributes more than twice this amount in economic benefits
• The County’s Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures inspects all domestic agricultural products arriving at San Francisco International Airport to prevent the introduction of potentially harmful agricultural pests
• The County Agriculture Department is the local enforcement authority for both the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation
• Each day, the department inspects fruits and vegetables at the Golden Gate Produce Terminal in South San Francisco to ensure product traceability, protect consumers from substandard quality and protect growers from theft
• Like ice plant? Neither does the Ag Department! The invasive species is non-native to the Peninsula and is an example of the weeds monitored and removed by the County’s Weed Management Area which is supported by the department

While the county’s agricultural producers often grow locally traditional crops like sprouts, leeks, artichokes and pumpkins, Crowder said the future may see more alternative economically viable crops like quinoa and kale.

Crowder said he was proud to accept the Board’s proclamation on behalf of all involved in agriculture, from those in his department to agricultural producers to the men and women they employ. All together, these are the individuals who feed this diverse economy and the the world’s many mouths, he said.

“Farming is tough. Growers are continually challenged by weather, competition and variable markets, regulations, increasing costs and pests. But time and time again they rise to the challenge and we are all the beneficiaries,” Crowder said.

Learn more about the San Mateo County’s Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures by visiting http://agwm.smcgov.org or the County’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/CountyofSanMa...

— SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION BY: County of San Mateo / PHOTOS: Erin Herbst, Biologist/Standard Specialist with the San Mateo County Agriculture/Weights & Measures Department, takes samples of organic produce to send to the California Department of Food and Agriculture to test if it meets standards under which agricultural products are labeled and sold as "organic."