Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)

The entire produce community - including the avocado industry - is undergoing a vital transformation, as various food-borne illness outbreaks have forced consumers and the federal government to place the safety of fresh produce under a newfound magnifying glass.  Acting under authority of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the Food & Drug Administration is expected to promulgate regulations in early 2012 to implement more stringent food-safety requirements.  This new regulatory oversight, along with growing customer demands, will soon require that every facet of the supply chain, including avocado growers, verify and document the safety of their operations and food they produce through a recognizable program.
While GAP certification is currently voluntary for California avocado growers, considering the aforementioned and the uncertainty of what requirements will be forthcoming under FSMA, it makes sense for growers to verify that their practices are properly designed to minimize food safety risks by pursuing GAP certification now.
To assist California avocado growers in becoming GAP certified, and to ensure the requirements were applicable for growing avocados, the Commission began development of an avocado specific set of GAP procedures in late 2010 built around the United States Department of Agriculture’s standards.  In August, 2011, the Board approved the CAC-GAP and CAC-GHP (Good Harvesting Practices) programs, which provide a uniform, common-sense set of procedures and guidelines for California avocado growers.
In addition, CAC has also developed a “Grower Checklist” to assist growers in preparation for the audit by conducting self-audits.  CAC is continuing to build the grower outreach campaign to help California avocado growers achieve GAP certification and will be working with handlers and the Avocado Society to provide workshops for growers to explain the GAP process along with answering any questions.  The first series of CAC-GAP Workshops are scheduled for February 21st in the South; February 22nd in Santa Paula; and February 23rd in San Luis Obispo.
The Commission’s goal is to get a sizeable percentage of the industry GAP certified by the end of 2012 and to ensure industry uniformity in GAP certification.  To help encourage California avocado growers to pursue GAP certification, the Commission approved a GAP Incentive Rebate (GIR).  The GIR will reimburse participating growers for actual audit costs, up to $300 per ranch audit, subject to the availability of funds. 

The entire produce community - including the avocado industry - is undergoing a vital transformation, as various food-borne illness outbreaks have forced consumers and the federal government to place the safety of fresh produce under a newfound magnifying glass.  Acting under authority of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the Food & Drug Administration is expected to promulgate regulations in early 2012 to implement more stringent food-safety requirements.  This new regulatory oversight, along with growing customer demands, will soon require that every facet of the supply chain, including avocado growers, verify and document the safety of their operations and food they produce through a recognizable program.

While GAP certification is currently voluntary for California avocado growers, considering the aforementioned and the uncertainty of what requirements will be forthcoming under FSMA, it makes sense for growers to verify that their practices are properly designed to minimize food safety risks by pursuing GAP certification now.

To assist California avocado growers in becoming GAP certified, and to ensure the requirements were applicable for growing avocados, the Commission began development of an avocado specific set of GAP procedures in late 2010 built around the United States Department of Agriculture’s standards.  In August, 2011, the Board approved the CAC-GAP and CAC-GHP (Good Harvesting Practices) programs, which provide a uniform, common-sense set of procedures and guidelines for California avocado growers.

In addition, CAC has also developed a “Grower Checklist” to assist growers in preparation for the audit by conducting self-audits.  CAC is continuing to build the grower outreach campaign to help California avocado growers achieve GAP certification and will be working with handlers and the Avocado Society to provide workshops for growers to explain the GAP process along with answering any questions.  The first series of CAC-GAP Workshops are scheduled for February 21st in the South; February 22nd in Santa Paula; and February 23rd in San Luis Obispo.

The Commission’s goal is to get a sizeable percentage of the industry GAP certified by the end of 2012 and to ensure industry uniformity in GAP certification.  To help encourage California avocado growers to pursue GAP certification, the Commission approved a GAP Incentive Rebate (GIR).  The GIR will reimburse participating growers for actual audit costs, up to $300 per ranch audit, subject to the availability of funds. 

As of January 2012, thirty-six California avocado growers had been audited by USDA under the CAC-GAP program totaling neary 4,400 GAP certified acres on 62 ranches.  You can see a list of completed audits here:www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5095430.

If you have any questions, comments, etc., please contact CAC at cac.iaf@avocado.org.