Export Certification
This program is responsible for assuring commodities exported to foreign countries meet the importing countries' requirements for each commodity imported.
The Export Certification program ensures that San Joaquin County's agricultural commodities meet the phytosanitary and quality requirements of importing countries. The program involves inspection, verification, and documentation to certify that products are free from pests and diseases before shipment.
California's Agricultural Commissioner system works with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) by having trained Inspectors as Accredited Certifying Officials (ACO) who the USDA grants permission to conduct inspections and issue Phytosanitary Certificates. These certificates inform foreign countries that the commodity has been inspected and free from harmful pests.
San Joaquin County Agricultural Biologist / Inspectors conduct multiple inspections daily on a variety of commodities. The top five exports include: walnuts, almonds, rice, cherries, and corn. The top 10 countries by certificates in 2024 were: Japan, The Republic of Korea, India, United Arab Emirates, Canada, The Republic of Turkiye, Mexico, Germany, Taiwan and Italy. In 2024, there were 13,398 phytosanitary certificates were issued to 98 countries.