GroupGAP
The National GAPs Program personnel, in collaboration with a team from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, are offering an opportunity for fruit and vegetable growers to learn about produce safety and GroupGap options. The focus of this new project is to increase understanding and implementation of food safety practices on fruit and vegetable farms across NY and increase participation in GroupGap. To maintain and expand access to markets (e.g., grocery stores, wholesale markets, restaurants), produce growers are often expected to meet regulatory requirements outlined in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) and pass third-party Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) audits. These requirements are intended to minimize food safety risks associated with the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fresh produce. The time and expense associated with meeting these requirements can be a barrier. This project is focused on raising awareness of the GroupGap option while also offering fresh produce growers opportunities to take food safety training, including the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training that meets FSMA PSR provision § 112.22(c), develop their own farm food safety plan, and attend a mock audit so they understand what to expect during a third-party audit. Understanding how to identify food safety risks and how to minimize them through the implementation of GAPs is important for all growers even if they are not subject to the FSMA PSR or asked for a third-party audit by their buyers.
This project is focused on raising awareness of the Group GAP option while also offering fresh produce growers opportunities to take food safety training, including the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training that meets FSMA PSR provision § 112.22(c), develop their own farm food safety plan (FFSP), and attend a mock audit so they understand what to expect during a third-party audit. The FFSP is required by third-party audits such as USDA GHP/GAP or Harmonized GAP. Growers will be provided with a FFSP template and trainers will be available for support as growers develop their own FFSP. At the end of the training, a mock audit conducted by a NYSDAM auditor will happen at a local farm, allowing growers to experience an audit and ask questions of the auditor. These actions have resulted in growers successfully completing FFSPs and audits (Schmit et al, 2020).
References
Schmit, T.M., Wall, G.L., Newbold, E.J., Bihn, E.A. 2020. Assessing the costs and returns of on-farm food safety improvements: A survey of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) training participants. PLoSONE 15(7):e0235507. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235507
If you are interested in more information about the GroupGAP program in New York, please contact ljg233 [at] cornell.edu (Laurie George), phone: (607) 882-1500.
Upcoming Training:
Produce Safety Alliance Growers Training, Farm Food Safety Plan Writing, and Group GAP
Register here for this training
- Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Registration 7:30-8:00 am)
- Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The Produce Safety Alliance (PSA), in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM), has a new project to increase understanding and implementation of food safety practices on fruit and vegetable farms across NY and participation in Group GAP. To maintain and expand access to markets (e.g., grocery stores, wholesale markets, restaurants), produce growers are often expected to meet regulatory requirements outlined in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) and pass third-party Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) audits. These requirements are intended to minimize food safety risks associated with the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fresh produce. The time and expense associated with meeting these requirements can be a barrier. This workshop will give growers the background knowledge to assess risks, implement practices to reduce risks, and tools to develop a written Farm Food Safety Plan (FFSP). Sometimes working cooperatively through Group GAP is a good option for some growers, so Group GAP information will also be provided.
This two-day training, April 1 and 2, 2025, will include a PSA Grower Training (day 1), development of a personalized written FFSP and discussion of third-party audits including the Group GAP audit program. To receive the AFDO PSA Grower Training Certificate of Completion, participants must attend all of day 1. Attending Day 2 is optional but is highly encouraged for farms interested in writing a FFSP, becoming GAP-audit certified, and learning about Group GAP.
You must bring a laptop to Day 2 of the training.
There is a fee of $20 for NY residents and $145 for non NY residents that will include lunch, training materials, and AFDO/PSA Certificate of Course completion.
This project is supported by USDA-NYSDAM 24SCBPNY1255-00
Fee
- New York state resident: $20
- Non New York state resident: $145
Past Trainings
- February 26-27, PSA Grower Training and development of a personalized written FFSP and discussion of third-party audits including the GroupGap audit program.