Stanislaus County swaps previous agricultural commissioner and sealer with San Joaquin’s
The Stanislaus Board of Supervisors has appointed a seasoned agricultural commissioner and sealer of weights and measures for a four-year term in this county, according to a news release.
Linda Pinfold, the current assistant agricultural commissioner and sealer in San Joaquin County, is set to begin working for Stanislaus on March 27, county spokeswoman Sonya Severo said.
Pinfold’s predecessor, Kamaljit Bagri, has also worked in both Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. Before becoming ag commissioner and sealer in Stanislaus, in 2021, Bagri was the assistant commissioner and sealer for San Joaquin.
Bagri has since returned to San Joaquin to take the top role there, after serving in the same position for two years in Stanislaus County. No information was available Monday on why Bagri left the Stanislaus post to go back north.
On what the commissioner and staff do, Pinfold said, “I feel that (our department is) a secret, but we affect everybody. We care about consumer protection and we’re passionate about it. l love talking about the job because people don’t even realize the job touches peoples lives every day.”
As agricultural commissioner, she is in charge of things such as making sure pesticide regulations are being followed, invasive plants and pests are kept out of the state or from traveling to other countries when produce is shipped, and compiling the county’s annual crop report.
She said the reports highlight the county’s most profitable crops each year.
“It’s really good to help protect and promote growers as we continue to deal with climate change, like with the most recent storms that hit or with the heatwave last August,” Pinfold said.
As sealer of weights and measures, she and her team try to get to every measurement scale and device on an annual basis. Scales are found at supermarket delis and produce sections, and landscape supply stores. Other measurement devices include gas pumps and propane/butane meters.
“We go out and register the devices that commodities are sold over and then we test those,” she said. “Just look for little seal for fuel pumps — we make sure it’s a gallon! With gas prices changing, we want to make sure people are getting what they pay for”
The salary range for Pinfold’s new commissioner post in Stanislaus is between $115,710 and $173,576, with a potential $10,000 bonus for being hired before June, The Bee recently reported.
“With over 24 years of experience in agriculture, Pinfold will plan, organize and direct Stanislaus County enforcement of the California Food and Agriculture code and the California Business and Professions Code relating to the County Department of Agriculture and Weights and Measures,” according to a press release.
