Food Safety Resources and Tools
Here is a list of resources and tools available on food safety certification.
General Farm and Food Safety Resources
- Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) GAP Web site
Good Agricultural and Good Handling Practices site that includes USDA GAP Checklist and information on scheduling an audit - Michigan State University (MSU) Extension Agrifood Safety Workgroup Web site
MSU Extension’s site dedicated to food safety, featuring the Agrifood Safety Minute - USDA Good Agricultural Practices & Good Handling Practices Audit Verification Checklist
The USDA GAP Certification Checklist that Auditors Use during Audits - Illustrated Guide to Growing Safe Produce on your Farm
Illustrated GAP Guide from National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service - Michigan’s Safe Food Risk Assessment
Risk assessment tool for small, direct market fruit and vegetable producers - Bridging the GAPs: Good Agricultural Practices
Video from Washington State Department of Agriculture on GAPs
Helpful General Web sites
For Consumers
- OutbreakNet
Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Foodborne Outbreak Online Database with public direct access to information on foodborne outbreaks - New food safety law could swallow GAP programs
Article from Good Fruit Grower on GAP certification; March 1st, 2011 issue - Food Safety: Are You at Risk?
Food Safety information for consumers from Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station - Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Food Safety Web site
Food safety resources and information for consumers
For Farmers
- Good Agricultural Practices Network for Education and Training
Cornell University Department of Food Science - University of California Food Safety Web site
Food Safety Web site by the University of California-Davis - On-Farm Food Safety: Guide to Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)
GAP Guide by Iowa State University Extension - Harvest/Post-harvest Handling and Food Safety
Field Exercise from Western Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) Farm Internship Curriculum and Handbook - GAP Overview and Auditor Perspective
Webinar
Webinar from Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS) - GAP Buyer Perspective Webinar
Webinar from Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS)
Self Audits
- PrimusLabs Sysco GAP Certification
Site with GAP information and resources for growers selling to Sysco - PrimusLabs Sysco Online Self-Audit
Self-audit for growers selling to Sysco and being certified by Primus - PrimusGFS Certification Information
Documentation for PrimusGFS Certification under the Global Food Safety Initiative’s (GFSI) benchmark - PrimusLabs GAP Documents
Documents for PrimusLabs GAP Certification, including checklists, self-audits etc. - Grower Self Test for a GAP audit (General Questions P1, P2, G1 to G15)
University of Maine Extension Resource for Potato Growers - Grower Self Audit for a USDA GAP Audit, General Questions P1, P2 G-1 to G-15
University of Maine Extension Resource for Potato Growers
Guidance for Small Farms
- Michigan’s Safe Food Risk Assessment for Small, Direct-Market Fruit and Vegetable Producers
Risk Assessment for small growers from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)
- Are small farms exempt from Good Agricultural Practices certification?
Article from MSU Extension News on GAP for small growers; April 25, 2011 - Small Farm Food Safety Verification
Presentation by NSF Davis Fresh from a National Good Food Network conference call - Harvest/Post-harvest Handling and Food Safety
Field Exercise from Western Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) Farm Internship Curriculum and Handbook - USDA Fresh Produce Audit Verification Program
USDA GAP Certification site by the USDA Agricultural Market Service with links to resources - NSF Davis Fresh Local Farm Food Safety Assurance Program
NSF affordable online food safety training for small farms
Resources for Commodity Growers and Managers
- Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Food Safety in Blueberry Manual
Resource for Blueberry Growers developed by the Trevor Nichols Research Center - GAP Clarifications for Cherry Growers
Michigan State University Extension AgBioResearch site - Farm Food Safety Program and Good Agricultural Practices Plan and Policy
University of Maine Extension Grower Manual Resource for Potato Growers - Potato GAP Audit Organizational Material
University of Idaho’s resource with GAP information for Potato Growers - 2010 MSU GAP Manual for Fruit and Vegetables
GAP Manual developed by MSU Extension and the Michigan Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Association, Inc. - Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) for Fruit Growers
Michigan State University Extension AgBioResearch site for GAP - USDA GAP/GHP: An Audit Verification Program for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industry
Overview of USDA Good Agricultural and Good Handling Practices presentation from Washington State University
Commodity Specific Information
Industry Guidance for Fruits, Vegetables and Juice in collaboration with FDA
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production, Harvest, Post-Harvest, and Valued-Added Unit Operations of Green Onions February 26, 2010
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Melon Supply Chain, 1st EditionNovember 7, 2005
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain, 2nd Edition July 2008
- Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Lettuce and Leafy Greens Supply Chain, 1st Edition April 25, 2006
Information about Microbial Activity on Specific Produce
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Guides for Fruits, Vegetables and Juices
- Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Tomatoes (July 2009)
- Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Melons(July 2009)
- Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Leafy Greens (July 2009)
- Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (October 26, 1998)
Requirements For Selling to Specific Wholesale Markets
- PrimusLabs Sysco GAP Certification
Site with GAP information and resources for growers selling to Sysco - SQF 1000 (Primary Producer) Documents
Links to SQF 1000 code, audit guide, vocabulary etc. - SQF 1000 Code
A HACCP-Based Supplier Assurance Code for the Primary Produce - GlobalG.A.P. Standards
Certification standards for GlobalG.A.P. - Produce GAPs Harmonized Food Safety Standards
Steps to take for growers seeking United Fresh Harmonized Food Safety Standards - Produce GAPs Post-harvest Harmonized Food Safety Standards
Post-harvest Operations Harmonized Food Safety Standards - PrimusLabs Farm/Ranch Audit
SyscoPrimus offers a list of minimum standards to help farms get ready for GAP certification
Training and Overall Informational Resources
- Agricultural Risk Management Resources
Training manuals, workbooks and resources on risk management from the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, available in English and Spanish - Produce GAP Harmonization Initative and Food Safety
Presentation describing whys and hows of United Fresh Food Harmonization certification for educators
Water Quality
- Food Safety on the Farm: Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices—Water
Resource from the University of Florida Extension on water testing for potential contaminants - Standard Operating Procedure for Good Agriculture Practices
A list of requirements for passing a GAP audit
Traceability
- Tracking Your Produce For Your Business and Health Webinar
A webinar recording on traceability from Colleen Collier Bess, MDARD USDA GAP inspector - Traceability
A list of produce traceability resources from Penn State Extension
Post-Harvest Handling
- Post-Harvest Handling Decision Tool
A tool from Value Chain Partnerships, an Iowa-based network for food and farm systems, that discusses handling systems for different groups of crops
Manure - Wildlife and Farm Animal and Bio-solid Management
- Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: Manure and Municipal Biosolids
Information from the FDA on microbial hazards and control of potenial hazards - Food Safety on the Farm: Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices—Manure and Municipal Biosolids
Resource from the University of Florida Extension - Standard Operating Procedure for Good Agriculture Practices
A list of requirements for passing a GAP audit
Hygiene and Sanitation
- Standard Operating Procedure for Good Agriculture Practices
A list of requirements for passing a GAP audit - Commercial On-Farm Food Safety Practices: Worker Hygiene and Health
A website from New Mexico State on worker hygiene for safer foods