Food Safety continued The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also sponsors a voluntary Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices (GAP and GHP) Fresh Produce Audit Verification Program. The USDA’s audit verifies that the producer has adhered to the standards specific to the Food and Drug Administration’s Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. The USDA audit program web site is www.ams.usda.gov. The site has good reference material and resources available for produce growers. Other GAP certification programs are available to produce growers who need to provide an even higher degree of food-safety assurance to their customers. Buyers for some retail grocery stores, restaurants, and large institutions may require farms, distributors, and processing facilities to be certified under these more stringent standards before conducting any business with them. The certification programs involve second-party audits, where the buying company inspects a farming operation based on a pre-determined set of standards; or a third-party audit, conducted by an independent auditor according to the applicable standards. Some of the audit programs are based on international standards known as Global G.A.P., Safe Quality Foods (SQF), Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), and British Retail Consortium (BRC). Farmers and food service personnel need to stay informed about the local, state, and federal regulations that may be implemented as food safety concerns continue to be in the news and as information changes and develops. The recently passed US Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) may affect some of the larger Ohio produce growers. The new law grants
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) more authority to regulate product recalls and requires both imported and domestically-grown produce to be traceable. Compliance with the new law may impact production costs as well as insurance premiums for the grower.
other food safety certification program may be required as a condition for coverage. Participation may also help reduce premium costs. Grower cooperatives and associations may be a valuable source of information and could be instrumental in negotiating certain types of product-liability insurance coverage on behalf of their memInsurance Ohio farmers should carry insurance bership in the areas of product liability, coverage for a variety of potential losses food safety, and product recall. The institutional food buyer must to their property and business. In adalso have a clear understanding of the dition to the basic homeowner’s/farminsurance coverage expected of their stead policy, producers usually must have product-liability coverage in order suppliers as well as the food-safety liability coverage their own operation to sell at farmers markets or to other buyers. This required coverage can range must have. The institution should have policies and procedures in place to adbetween one-million and five-million dress all the best handling practices dollars in product liability. It is recommended that farmers (BHP) related to food safety in order to consult with an insurance agent that has comply with local health department an Agribusiness and Farm Insurance requirements and other regulations. Specialist (AFIS) designation to asConsultation with insurance and other sure a thorough understanding of their industry experts can ensure that each needs. A policy that protects the farm link in the supply chain has the proper from loss due to product recall or other coverage and that all parties are prefood-safety related issues may need to pared to address a wide range of food be customized. Participation in GAP or safety related issues. s
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