FEATURE STORY CALIFORNIA’S AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONERS AT WORK By Taylor Lauson, Communications Manager
more about laws and regulations as he continued down this career path—and the road to commissioner is not a short one. “To be able to move up through the ranks, there are quite a few exams we have to take. There are eight inspector exams, licensing exams through the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), then there are written and oral exams for deputy commissioner and then again for the Commissioner Sealer exam. So, you have to pass all these exams to even be qualified for the position.” The scope of the position is nothing if not extensive. County offices administer programs related to pest prevention and exclusion, export certification, crop statistics, weights and measures, apiary protection, nursery inspection and consumer protection, among others—making the commissioner’s office one of the broadest and most practical resources available to California growers. In Tulare County, one of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions, those responsibilities are amplified by the sheer volume and diversity of agricultural production. “We have over 44 commodities that produce more than a million dollars in gross production,” said Greer. “Not only do we grow so much, but we’re also a hub for a lot of the surrounding counties.” According to Greer, Tulare County exports products to approximately 90 countries and issues roughly 33,000 phytosanitary certificates each year. Required by many foreign governments, these certificates verify that agricultural shipments meet importing countries’ plant health requirements. Without them, products don’t move. In neighboring Fresno County, Agricultural Commissioner Melissa Cregan explained what many growers may not realize is that California is unique in how that certification process works: the county commissioner's office certifies shipments at their origin. “Our staff actually writes all of those export certificates for everything going to all the various countries that it gets shipped to,” said Cregan.
Melissa Cregan (far right) with CACASA’s 2025 delegation in Washington, D.C.
If you were to ask a room full of children what they want to be when they grow up, you would likely hear answers, such as doctor, astronaut, athlete, maybe even influencer in this modern age driven by social media. Chances are, “agricultural commissioner” won’t make the list. Yet many of the men and women who eventually find themselves in these roles arrive there through a shared passion for agriculture. Whether they grew up on farms, loved animals as a kid or discovered agriculture through their careers, many are driven by the same goal: supporting and protecting California’s most vital industry. Tulare County Assistant Agricultural Commissioner Christopher Greer was born and raised in the county he now represents, embodying that very dedication. “I always grew up around agriculture,” said Greer. “I lived down the road from my family’s dairy farm, was heavily involved in Future Farmers of America in school and went on to be on a national judging team for dairy in college.” After graduating from Fresno State University with a degree in agricultural business, he took a trainee position as an Agricultural Standards Inspector with Tulare County. Over time, he learned
Christopher Greer (far right) at an event for the California Association of Standards and Agricultural Professionals (CASAP).
32 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com October – December 2026
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