Penn State GAPs

On-Farm Food Safety from Penn State University
Last updated November 6, 2009
Contact Luke LaBorde lfl5@psu.edu

Four steps to safer farm practices

1) Learn about on-farm food safety

Download these documents and Penn State presentations for background and context on farm food safety issues and the latest recommendations.

Keeping Pennsylvania Produce Safe Using Good Agricultural Practices
March 31, 2009 video conference workshop on farm food safety workshop

On-Farm Food Safety – An Emerging Issue for Pennsylvania Growers
Each year, we hear more about people becoming sick after eating raw fruits and vegetables contaminated with harmful microorganisms. Most of the outbreaks have been traced to crops grown in other parts of the U.S. or in other countries. But microbial contamination of fresh produce can happen anywhere. As consumer demand continues to shift away from heat processed fruits and vegetables and toward fresh, ready-to-eat produce, Pennsylvania growers need to join in the fight to keep our food supply safe [MORE].

Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.1998. FDA guidelines for commercial produce growers

2) Compare your farm practices with nationwide food safety standards

Do you need to make any changes in how you run things? Complete this self inspection form based on the USDA farm food safety verification program.

Penn State GAP Self-Audit. Penn State University Department of Food Science July 2007. Score calculation table corrected September 2009.

3) Write a farm food safety plan

Use this general guidance document from Penn State University. Standards and interpretations are based on the USDA Audit Matrix and adapted from the “Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices Audit Verification Program - Policy and Instructions Handbook”. July 2008.

Guidelines for Implementing a Good Agricultural Practices Program. A discussion and interpretation of USDA AMS audit requirements. Penn State University. Updated March 2009.

Good Agricultural Practices Food Safety Plan. Use this template to start writing your own food safety plan. Updated March 2009.

4) Find a third party auditor

Contact the USDA AMS / PA Dept. of Agriculture Fresh Produce Audit Verification Program

To request a USDA/PDA audit, download the Request for GAPS Audit form from the PDA web site and send to:

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services Eggs Fruits and Vegetables Division
2301 North Cameron Street Room 112
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408

or Call Donald Wellbrock at (717) 787-5107 Ext 220

More information: USDA Fresh Produce Audit Verification Program
Press Release: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture program reimburses growers for initial USDA audit

Additional information resources

Training Resources

Food Safety Begins on the Farm. Good Agricultural Practices Network for Training and Education. Cornell University.
- State contacts
- Educational materials
Fresh Produce Southeast Training Program Fact sheets and presentations for primarily southeast U.S. crops.
Good Agricultural Practices Training Focuses on GAPs training for countries that export to the U.S.

General Guidance for Growers

Commodity Specific Guidance

FDA Guidance Documents. 2009 updates for tomatoes, leafy greens, and tomatoes.
Penn State Mushroom Food Safety Program. Commodity specific guidelines and training materials for mushroom growers. 2008
Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production and Harvest of Lettuce and Leafy Greens. IFPA, PMA, UFFVA, WGA. June 13, 2008
Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Melon Supply Chain. PMA, UFFVA. April 25, 2006.
Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain. North American Tomato Trade Work Group, United Fresh Produce Association. 2nd Ed. July 2008

Summary of Current and Emerging GAP Standards

Global Food Safety Initiative - Seven major retailers have come to a common acceptance of four GFSI benchmarked food safety schemes. The GFSI Guidance Document Version 5 (released September 2007), contains commonly agreed criteria for food safety standards, against which any food or farm assurance standard can be benchmarked.
Safe Quality Foods Institute ( SQF).The SQF Institute, a division of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), was established to administer the SQF Program, a global food safety and quality certification and management system. The SQF 1000 Code is a HACCP-based, GFSI recognized, supplier assurance code designed to meet the needs of primary producers, including those involved in fresh produce.
GlobalGap is a private sector body that sets voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products around the globe.
The USDA Fresh Produce Audit Verification Program is not currently benchmarked to GFSI or GlobalGap, but is widely used by U.S. agricultural producers to verify safe growing practices.

Government Information

Water

Current Drinking Water Standards - EPA Office of Water
Bacterial Water Quality Standards for Recreational Waters - EPA
Penn State Water Resources Extension Web Site - Penn State University
Penn State Water Publications Penn State Extension
Penn State Water Testing Program - Penn State University
To submit a drinking water sample to Penn State’s laboratory, obtain a Drinking Water Test Kit from your county cooperative extension office or directly from the laboratory. Send your water sample by overnight mail along with $35.00 payment
Department of Environmental Protection approved water testing laboratories (Scroll down for link to Excel spreadsheet)
Sanitary Well Caps - Penn State University Extension
Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water - PSU School of Forest Resources fact sheet
Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Are they in your drinking water? - PA DEP Microorganisms, Bacteria and Viruses in Water - Extoxnet
National Resources Conservation Service - Irrigation Page
A Practical Approach to Calculating Dose Values for Water Disinfection - University of California - Davis
Postharvest Chlorination Basic Properties and Key Points for Effective Disinfection - University of California-Davis
Treating Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water - Penn State University

Controlling Wildlife

Controlling Birds Around Farm Buildings Penn State Extension
Controlling Birds on Fruit Crops Penn State Extension
Controlling Deer Damage in Wisconsin UW-Extension. Tips for keeping deer out of fields

Manure and/or Biosolids Management

Chapter 3.1. Composting Operations Regulatory Requirements. California Code of Regulations
National Resources Conservation Service - Animal Waste Management
EPA Composting. Technical and regulatory information. EPA
Animal Feeding Operations. National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center. EPA
PA Nutrient Management Regulations Title 25 § 83.201
Pennsylvania Biosolids Program
PA Code Title 25 Chapter 281 Composting Facilities
Composting Operation and Facility Siting and Design Standards. Title 14, Division 7, Chapter 3.1. Article 5. California Integrated Waste Management Board.
The Science of Composting Epstein E. 1996. CRC Press. Google Books preview

Worker Health and Hygiene

Sanitary Facilities

Field Sanitation Regulations 29 CFR - 1928.110 - Occupational Health and Safety Administration, U.S. Dept. of Labor
Seasonal Farm Labor Camp Program
Comparison of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and OSHA field sanitation standards.
PA Dept of Ag Self-Inspection Checklists for Camp Operators (PDF)

Packing Facility Design and Sanitation

Packing Facilities - Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service
Packing Shed Layout - The Healthy Profits, Healthy Farmers Project’
Packing Shed Layout - A series of Tip Sheets on labor efficiency for small-scale fresh market vegetable growers, UW Cooperative Extension.
Post-Harvest Handling Decision Tool - Facilities Considerations
Packing Facility Design Plans. LSU University
Cold Storage Sanitation - Trevor Suslow, UC Davis Mushroom Food Safety and Sanitation Workshop, 2001
Guidelines for Controlling Listeria monocytogenes in Small- to Medium-Scale Packing and Fresh-Cut Operations - University of California - Davis

Pesticide safety

Pesticide Control Act of 1973 Pesticide Regulations Title 7, Part V, Chapter 128

Traceability

Produce Traceability and Trace-back: From Seed to Shelf and Beyond Trevor Suslow, Ph.D. University of California - Davis
Produce Traceability Initiative PMA, CPMA, United Fresh Produce
FDA Guide To Traceback Of Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Implicated In Epidemiological Investigations
Farm Investigation Questionnaire - A form developed by FDA for use in the domestic survey follow-ups and outbreak tracebacks.
FDA Recall and Safety Alerts
FDA Guide To Traceback of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Implicated In Epidemiological Investigations
Traceability: Formulation and Implementation of an Economic Efficient System in the Fruit and Vegetable Industry.This paper examines an economic efficient method of formulating and implementing traceability regulations in the fruit and vegetable industry. Choices 21(4). American Agricultural Economics Association. April 2006.

GAPs for Home Gardeners

Backyard Gardens Need Good Food-Safety Practices, Too
Penn State University Friday June 20, 2008
Key Points of Control and Management for Microbial Food Safety: Edible Landscape Plants and Home Garden Produce UC-Davis Department of Vegetable Crops
Keep food safety in mind when planning vegetable garden University of Connecticut Extension. via the Penn State Food Safety Blog

This site was created and is maintained by:
Dr. Luke F. LaBorde
Associate Professor of Food Science
Penn State University
814-863-2298
lfl5@psu.edu


		*Good Agricultural Practices* *On-Farm Food Safety from Penn State University* Last updated November 6, 2009 Contact Luke LaBorde lfl5@psu.edu Four steps to safer farm practices 1) Learn about on-farm food safety Download these documents and Penn State presentations for background and context on farm food safety issues and the latest recommendations. Keeping Pennsylvania Produce Safe Using Good Agricultural Practices March 31, 2009 video conference workshop on farm food safety workshop On-Farm Food Safety – An Emerging Issue for Pennsylvania Growers Each year, we hear more about people becoming sick after eating raw fruits and vegetables contaminated with harmful microorganisms. Most of the outbreaks have been traced to crops grown in other parts of the U.S. or in other countries. But microbial contamination of fresh produce can happen anywhere. As consumer demand continues to shift away from heat processed fruits and vegetables and toward fresh, ready-to-eat produce, Pennsylvania growers need to join in the fight to keep our food supply safe [MORE]. Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.1998. FDA guidelines for commercial produce growers 2) Compare your farm practices with nationwide food safety standards Do you need to make any changes in how you run things? Complete this self inspection form based on the USDA farm food safety verification program. Penn State GAP Self-Audit. Penn State University Department of Food Science July 2007. Score calculation table corrected September 2009. 3) Write a farm food safety plan Use this general guidance document from Penn State University. Standards and interpretations are based on the USDA Audit Matrix and adapted from the “Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices Audit Verification Program - Policy and Instructions Handbook”. July 2008. Guidelines for Implementing a Good Agricultural Practices Program. A discussion and interpretation of USDA AMS audit requirements. Penn State University. Updated March 2009. Good Agricultural Practices Food Safety Plan. Use this template to start writing your own food safety plan. Updated March 2009. 4) Find a third party auditor Contact the USDA AMS / PA Dept. of Agriculture Fresh Produce Audit Verification Program To request a USDA/PDA audit, download the Request for GAPS Audit form from the PDA web site and send to: PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services Eggs Fruits and Vegetables Division 2301 North Cameron Street Room 112 Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408 or Call Donald Wellbrock at (717) 787-5107 Ext 220 More information: USDA Fresh Produce Audit Verification Program Press Release: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture program reimburses growers for initial USDA audit Additional information resources Training Resources Food Safety Begins on the Farm. Good Agricultural Practices Network for Training and Education. Cornell University. State contacts Educational materials Fresh Produce Southeast Training Program Fact sheets and presentations for primarily southeast U.S. crops. Good Agricultural Practices Training Focuses on GAPs training for countries that export to the U.S. General Guidance for Growers Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.1998. FDA Good Agricultural Practices - A Self-Audit for Growers and Handlers. UC-Davis Commodity Specific Guidance FDA Guidance Documents. 2009 updates for tomatoes, leafy greens, and tomatoes. Penn State Mushroom Food Safety Program. Commodity specific guidelines and training materials for mushroom growers. 2008 Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production and Harvest of Lettuce and Leafy Greens. IFPA, PMA, UFFVA, WGA. June 13, 2008 Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Melon Supply Chain. PMA, UFFVA. April 25, 2006. Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain. North American Tomato Trade Work Group, United Fresh Produce Association. 2nd Ed. July 2008 Summary of Current and Emerging GAP Standards Global Food Safety Initiative - Seven major retailers have come to a common acceptance of four GFSI benchmarked food safety schemes. The GFSI Guidance Document Version 5 (released September 2007), contains commonly agreed criteria for food safety standards, against which any food or farm assurance standard can be benchmarked. Safe Quality Foods Institute ( SQF).The SQF Institute, a division of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), was established to administer the SQF Program, a global food safety and quality certification and management system. The SQF 1000 Code is a HACCP-based, GFSI recognized, supplier assurance code designed to meet the needs of primary producers, including those involved in fresh produce. GlobalGap is a private sector body that sets voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products around the globe. The USDA Fresh Produce Audit Verification Program is not currently benchmarked to GFSI or GlobalGap, but is widely used by U.S. agricultural producers to verify safe growing practices. Government Information Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.1998. FDA Improving the Safety and Quality of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: A Training Manual for Trainers. FAO Guide to Produce Farm Investigations - FDA Water Current Drinking Water Standards - EPA Office of Water Bacterial Water Quality Standards for Recreational Waters - EPA Penn State Water Resources Extension Web Site - Penn State University Penn State Water Publications Penn State Extension Penn State Water Testing Program - Penn State University To submit a drinking water sample to Penn State’s laboratory, obtain a Drinking Water Test Kit from your county cooperative extension office or directly from the laboratory. Send your water sample by overnight mail along with $35.00 payment Department of Environmental Protection approved water testing laboratories (Scroll down for link to Excel spreadsheet) Sanitary Well Caps - Penn State University Extension Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water - PSU School of Forest Resources fact sheet Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Are they in your drinking water? - PA DEP Microorganisms, Bacteria and Viruses in Water - Extoxnet National Resources Conservation Service - Irrigation Page A Practical Approach to Calculating Dose Values for Water Disinfection - University of California - Davis Postharvest Chlorination Basic Properties and Key Points for Effective Disinfection - University of California-Davis Treating Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water - Penn State University Controlling Wildlife Controlling Birds Around Farm Buildings Penn State Extension Controlling Birds on Fruit Crops Penn State Extension Controlling Deer Damage in Wisconsin UW-Extension. Tips for keeping deer out of fields Manure and/or Biosolids Management Chapter 3.1. Composting Operations Regulatory Requirements. California Code of Regulations National Resources Conservation Service - Animal Waste Management EPA Composting. Technical and regulatory information. EPA Animal Feeding Operations. National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center. EPA PA Nutrient Management Regulations Title 25 § 83.201 Pennsylvania Biosolids Program PA Code Title 25 Chapter 281 Composting Facilities Composting Operation and Facility Siting and Design Standards. Title 14, Division 7, Chapter 3.1. Article 5. California Integrated Waste Management Board. The Science of Composting Epstein E. 1996. CRC Press. Google Books preview Worker Health and Hygiene EPA's Worker Protection Standard (WPS) Seasonal Farm Labor Camp Program Sanitary Facilities Field Sanitation Regulations 29 CFR - 1928.110 - Occupational Health and Safety Administration, U.S. Dept. of Labor Seasonal Farm Labor Camp Program Comparison of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and OSHA field sanitation standards. PA Dept of Ag Self-Inspection Checklists for Camp Operators (PDF) Packing Facility Design and Sanitation Packing Facilities - Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service Packing Shed Layout - The Healthy Profits, Healthy Farmers Project’ Packing Shed Layout - A series of Tip Sheets on labor efficiency for small-scale fresh market vegetable growers, UW Cooperative Extension. Post-Harvest Handling Decision Tool - Facilities Considerations Packing Facility Design Plans. LSU University Cold Storage Sanitation - Trevor Suslow, UC Davis Mushroom Food Safety and Sanitation Workshop, 2001 Guidelines for Controlling Listeria monocytogenes in Small- to Medium-Scale Packing and Fresh-Cut Operations - University of California - Davis Pesticide safety Pesticide Control Act of 1973 Pesticide Regulations Title 7, Part V, Chapter 128 Traceability Produce Traceability and Trace-back: From Seed to Shelf and Beyond Trevor Suslow, Ph.D. University of California - Davis Produce Traceability Initiative PMA, CPMA, United Fresh Produce FDA Guide To Traceback Of Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Implicated In Epidemiological Investigations Farm Investigation Questionnaire - A form developed by FDA for use in the domestic survey follow-ups and outbreak tracebacks. FDA Recall and Safety Alerts FDA Guide To Traceback of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Implicated In Epidemiological Investigations Traceability: Formulation and Implementation of an Economic Efficient System in the Fruit and Vegetable Industry.This paper examines an economic efficient method of formulating and implementing traceability regulations in the fruit and vegetable industry. Choices 21(4). American Agricultural Economics Association. April 2006. GAPs for Home Gardeners Backyard Gardens Need Good Food-Safety Practices, Too Penn State University Friday June 20, 2008 Key Points of Control and Management for Microbial Food Safety: Edible Landscape Plants and Home Garden Produce UC-Davis Department of Vegetable Crops Keep food safety in mind when planning vegetable garden University of Connecticut Extension. via the Penn State Food Safety Blog This site was created and is maintained by: Dr. Luke F. LaBorde Associate Professor of Food Science Penn State University 814-863-2298 lfl5@psu.edu