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As the holidays approach, the opportunity arises for urban Californians to recognize those who provide the food bounty enjoyed every holiday season. California is blessed by a Mediterranean climate that allows growers to produce fresh food year-round. But to grow that food, California’s agricultural community must overcome the highest regulatory costs, strictest food safety rules and competition from foreign countries and other states that do not face these challenges. Covering all the factors that indirectly affect production costs, like labor, minimum wage and transportation, would require an entire magazine. So for now, let’s focus on some costs that directly impact the safety of your holiday dinner.

Protection from Foodborne Disease
Californians enjoy some of the safest food in the country, if not the world. For those in urban areas enjoying holiday meals, here are some facts that shouldn’t be overlooked. California growers must comply with some of the strictest food safety rules globally, including the Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act. The act grants state partners the authority to mandate recalls, increase inspections and suspend facility registrations if food poses a public health risk.

In California, the program is overseen by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), which operates one of the country’s most advanced laboratories for detecting contaminants in crops. This enables California to enforce safety standards without relying solely on the federal government.

The department’s Produce Safety Program inspects farms and provides education to help them meet regulatory requirements. Growers and processors who handle human food must develop written food safety plans based on hazard analyses and preventive controls. Additional recordkeeping for foods on the Food Traceability List ensures rapid identification and removal of contaminated products during outbreaks. These measures add cost but help ensure that holiday meals remain safe from foodborne disease.

‘Modern testing now detects residues in parts per billion or trillion, yet 39% of samples had no detectable pesticide residues at all.’

Pesticide Use Safety
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation works alongside CDFA to protect people, communities and the environment from pesticide risks. While familiar, it is important to remind consumers how rigorously pesticides are reviewed and monitored in California.

Every pesticide must first be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a process requiring hundreds of studies and taking five to seven years. Regulators evaluate both health effects and environmental risks, applying strict safety standards.

After federal approval, California conducts a separate, more stringent review. The Department of Pesticide Regulation applies even tighter standards than the EPA. Products potentially covered by Proposition 65 are held to a safety factor of 1,000, meaning exposure levels must be drastically lower than any level shown to cause harm.

This review process also includes scientists from the University of California system, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, the California Air Resources Board and county agricultural commissioners. These experts analyze data and question outcomes to ensure all risks are addressed before any product is approved. The full state review can take up to a decade.

California also monitors pesticides after approval. In 2023, more than 8,000 air samples were tested for 40 different pesticides. Over half showed no detections. 21 chemicals were not detected at all. 11 appeared only at trace levels, and eight were found at measurable levels. That is eight samples out of 8,000. This is a strong indication that our communities and environment remain safe.

How Safe Is That Holiday Meal?
The Department of Pesticide Regulation also conducts market-basket testing of produce sold in California, focusing on pesticide residues. Its 2023 report showed more than 3,500 unwashed produce samples tested for up to 500 pesticide compounds. Under EPA rules, samples are considered illegal only if detections exceed health-protective tolerances. These limits are often 100 times lower than any level linked to health effects.

Highlights from the “California Grown” 2023 Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program include:

• 39% of samples had no detectable pesticide residues

• 60% had residues below EPA tolerance levels

• Of 1,059 California-grown produce samples, less than 1% had illegal residues

Modern testing now detects residues in parts per billion or trillion. So “no detectable residue” means nothing was found even at those extremely sensitive levels.

Over 99% of California-grown produce tested was either residue-free or below tolerance levels. Just 0.3% had illegal residues. That rate is so low it is nearly imperceptible on a chart.

California-grown produce consistently performs better than international counterparts. It even tests about 10% safer than comparable produce from the European Union, often considered the global benchmark for food safety.

This success is no accident; California’s growers, commodity groups and regulatory agencies have made long-term investments in education and compliance. While the state is known for environmental leadership, this data underscores its role as a national leader in pesticide safety.

The Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program does not focus only on premium grocery chains. It targets produce frequently eaten by children, products with potential Proposition 65 risks, types historically flagged for violations and imports from countries with compliance issues. This gives all Californians peace of mind that their holiday meals are safe and nutritious.

Costs to Agriculture
What consumers might not realize is that the agricultural community, not the public, absorbs the cost of these rigorous programs. A study from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo found that between 2006 and 2024, regulatory compliance costs for growers rose from 1.24% to over 12.5% of production costs. That is a 1,366% increase in less than 20 years.

These rising costs are paid through direct fees and taxes, not passed on to consumers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, California households spend only about 6.84% of their income on food, ranking 42nd in the nation for food-at-home spending.

The old saying holds true: “California growers are price takers, not price makers.” As a result of growers’ problem-solving and resourcefulness, urban households enjoy a wide variety of affordable, safe food throughout the holiday season.

So let us wish everyone a happy holiday season and thank the growers who help make it possible.