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GroupGAP Training

Upcoming Trainings:

  • November 18-19, 2026
    Location: Bushel Collective, 106 Main Street, Delhi, NY 13753
    Day 1: Wednesday, November 18th, 8:00am -  5:00pm (Registration sign-in 7:30 - 8:00am)
    Day 2: Thursday, November 19th, 8:00am - 3:30pm
    NY-261118-GR - Registration Information
     
  • December 15-16, 2026
    Location: Roycroft Power House, 39 South Grove Street, East Aurora, NY 14052
    Day 1: Tuesday, December 15th, 8:00am -  5:00pm (Registration sign-in 7:30 - 8:00am)
    Day 2: Wednesday, December 16th, 8:00am - 3:30pm
    NY-261215-GR - Registration Information

Fees include lunch, training materials, and AFDO/PSA Certificate of Course Completion.

  • New York state resident: $20
  • Non New York state resident: $145

You must bring a laptop to Day 2 of the training.


The Cornell University National GAPs Program, in collaboration with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM), is working with New York fruit and vegetable growers, packers, and food hubs to strengthen food safety practices and increase awareness of the GroupGAP audit certification program. This initiative aims to expand access to GroupGAP certification opportunities across New York State.

For many growers, maintaining and expanding access to markets such as grocery stores, wholesalers, and restaurants requires demonstrating compliance with food safety requirements. This often includes meeting the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) and successfully completing third-party Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) audits. However, the cost and time associated with compliance and certification can present significant challenges, particularly for small and mid-sized operations. 

To help address these challenges, the Cornell University National GAPs Program and NYSDAM offer a two or three-day GroupGAP Training that provides growers with practical food safety education, hands-on support, and information about the GroupGAP certification model.

A minimum of 10 registered participants is required to offer this training.
 

Participants have opportunities to:

  • Day 1: Complete the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training, which satisfies FSMA PSR provision § 112.22(c). Completion of Day 1 results in an AFDO/PSA Certificate of Course Completion.
  • Day 2: Develop a personalized Farm Food Safety Plan, an important component of audit readiness. Participants should bring a laptop on this day. Participants will also learn about the GroupGAP certification program and the requirements for achieving certification through a third-party audit.
  • Day 3: Partake in a mock audit (if a nearby farm is willing to host) conducted by a NYSDAM auditor to better understand the audit process and audit expectations.

Day 2 and 3 are optional, but highly encouraged for farms pursuing GAP certification. Understanding food safety risks and implementing GAPs can benefit all fruit and vegetable growers, packers, and food hubs. Educational programs like this one are valuable in helping farms develop effective food safety plans, prepare for audits, and improve market access, thereby strengthening food safety outcomes (Schmit et al, 2020).
 

More Information
For more information about the GroupGAP trainings in New York, please contact Laura Acuña-Maldonado at lea6 [at] cornell.edu (lea6[at]cornell[dot]edu) or (607) 882-5635.
 

Reference
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

Past Trainings:

  • February 26-27, 2025 -  CCE Sullivan County, Liberty, NY
  • January 20-21, 2026 - Cornell AgriTech, Geneva, NY

Related Links:

This project is supported by USDA-NYSDAM award 24SCBPNY1255-00.