Third Party Audit

USDA Good Agricultural Practices & Good Handling Practices (GAP&GHP) audit verification program is a voluntary program is offered to the fruit and vegetable industry to verify an operation’s efforts to minimize the risk of contamination of fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts by microbial pathogens. The program does not guarantee the product is free from microbial contamination but verifies the participant has taken proactive measures to reduce the risk of contamination by adhering to generally recognized industry best practices. The responsibility for product safety and the continued observance of best practices rests with the operation producing and handling the fresh product.

SCOPES OF AUDIT

The USDA GAP&GHP audit is divided into seven sections or scopes

• The scopes of the audit are:
  • General Questions
  • Part 1 – Farm Review
  • Part 2 – Field Harvesting & Field Packing Activities
  • Part 3 – House Packing Facility
  • Part 4 – Storage & Transportation
  • Part 5 – (No Longer Used)
  • Part 6 – Wholesale Distribution Center/Terminal Warehouse
  • Part 7 – Preventative Food Defense Procedures is an optional scope for those operations which need verification of food defense. The operation shall designate which scopes of the audit the auditor will perform when requesting the audit.

USDA GAP&GHP User Guide 

USDA GAP&GHP Checklist

The two standards used for Produce GAPs Harmonized Food Safety Standard Audits are the “Field Operations and Harvesting Harmonized Food Safety Standard” and the “Post-harvest Operations Harmonized Food Safety Standard.”

The official versions can be located here Harmonization Initiative Harmonized Food Safety Standards.

SCOPES OF AUDIT

• The Harmonized GAP Plus+ Audit is comprised of four scopes:
  • General Questions: The General Questions scope is required to be completed for every audit.
  • Field Operations and Harvesting
  • Post-Harvest Operations
    • One or both of the Field Operations and Harvesting and/or Post-Harvest Scopes will be completed based on the type of operation being audited.
  • Logo Use
    • The Logo Use scope must be completed for any Operation that intends to use the USDA GAP & GHP Logo on the packaging or promotional materials.
  • There are four optional scopes that are available for operations that produce, harvest, pack, store, distribute or repack tomatoes which provide verification of requirements specific to tomato operations.
    • Tomato Audit Protocol for Open-field Production and Harvesting,
    • Packinghouse
    • Greenhouse
    • Repack and Distribution

1. Contact Sherri Horrocks via email at Sherri.Horrocks@isda.idaho.gov or call 208-785-8017 to request an appointment.
2. Fill out and sign the Agreement For Participation (USDA SC-651).  The completed form must be submitted signed before an audit can be performed.
   1. Click to open the Agreement For Participation (USDA SC-651)
   2.  On page 1, fill in the company information at the top. On page 2, fill in the Name of Applicant, Title, Signature, and date under “Approved by” Print and return the signed agreement to the Blackfoot office by mail or email.
      Mail to:  Idaho State Dept. of Agriculture, Food Safety Program, 745 W Bridge St Ste. D, Blackfoot, ID 83221
      or Email to:  Sherri Horrocks (Sherri.Horrocks@isda.idaho.gov)

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables