USDA Unveils Online Risk Management Tool

WASHINGTONThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Dec. 15 unveiled a free online tool designed to help farmers achieve Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) harmonized standards and certification, which will help lower their risk of contamination on the farm by generating customized food-safety plans.

UDA's GAP audit verification program focuses on best agricultural practices to verify that farms are producing, and packers are handling and storing, fruits and vegetables in the safest manner possible to minimize food-safety hazards. The free online tooldeveloped by FamilyFarmed.org with funding from USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA)helps farmers design a customized manual to meet GAP harmonized standards and certification requirements, including USDA GAP standards, and mitigate business risks by answering just a few questions.

USDA's GAP audit verification program, administered by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), focuses on best agricultural practices to verify that farms are producing fruits and vegetables in the safest manner possible to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards. USDA's voluntary audit-based program verifies adherence to the recommendations made in FDAs Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.

"USDA believes that a strong farm safety netincluding effective, market-based risk solutions for producers of all variety and sizeis crucial to sustain the vitality of American agriculture," said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. "Effectively managing risk is important to all producers, and having an acceptable food-safety program is in the best interest of consumers, buyers, and the farmers themselves. USDA is proud to have worked with private, public and non-profit partners to introduce this free tool to farmers seeking to gain certification as a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) producer."

Groups that participated in the development and review of the tool include Chipotle Mexican Grill, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Compass Group, Earthbound Farm, Farm Aid, FDA, NSF Agriculture, Produce Marketing Association, SYSCO, The Organic Center, Western Growers, Wallace Center at Winrock International, Wild Farm Alliance, University of California at Davis, United Fresh Produce Association, and USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.