Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) are measures that can be taken by farmers to prevent microbial contamination of fruits and vegetables as they are produced, packed, handled and stored. And since some wholesale buyers require farmers to be USDA certified as GAPs compliant, Penn State University developed the Farm Food Safety Website to provide growers with the information they need to meet the GAPs standards. The website provides GAPs educational resources, including checklists, how-to templates, and background materials for anyone interested in having their farm certified.
A portable, durable 19-page flip chart in English and Spanish for training harvesters and handlers is also available. Visit Penn State for ordering information, or download a free PDF.
Want more information? See the related SARE grant:
- Preparing small and mid-size growers of fruits and vegetables for on-farm food safety certification (ENE09-113)
This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.