GAP Harmonization: An Invitation to the Table
Hello!
The following linked document, for your consideration, is a memo from United Fresh Produce Association on behalf of the Produce GAPs Harmonization Initiative Technical Working Group (TWG). I am a member of the TWG, which is a voluntary group representing many different buyers, produce commodity associations, farms and farmers, audit agencies and GAP standard owners. We have been working for the last 6 months on "phase one" of the creation of a "unified" GAP standard that will be acceptable/useful to all segments of the produce industry. A key intended outcome is to eliminate audit supermetrics, audit fatigue and redundancy, and to assure market access and opportunity for farmers wishing to enter the produce supply chain, while maintaining and improving the safety of our fresh fruits and vegetables throughout that chain.
While we have been fortunate to have over 100 different participants at one or more of our meetings, which have been held all around the country and will continue until fall, we also know that travel costs and conflicting time commitments and costs are limiting access to this process.
With this in mind the attached memo explains how to access a blog hosted by United Fresh so that you can access the draft standard and comment on it.
I encourage you to weigh in. The draft needs the practical critique of the farmers, aggregators, and anyone who would utilize it to meet buyer requirements in the retail and wholesale supply chain. Your input is important, welcome, and valuable. I encourage you if you can to take the time to read through the draft and pass along your suggestions and comments.
If you have questions about the Produce GAPs Harmonization process or any aspect of the move toward a "precompetitive" understanding of Food Safety, I will address those to the best of my ability, or to direct your questions to others with greater insight. It is easiest to reach me via email at contact@ngfn.org.
I realize that there are many among the sustainable and organic and local/regional food movements who view this process and any industry initiative with suspicion. I want to emphasize that the GAP standard that is being proposed is a voluntary standard, and is designed for use in the supply chain by willing and voluntary participants. No one is obligated to utilize these standards, just as no one is obligated to enter the supply chain with their products.
At the same time, access to markets is an important issue for farmers of all scales, and our TWG members believe that our multi-stakeholder approach holds great promise to preserve and enhance opportunity and choice for our farmers and consumers while curtailing competition in the market on the basis of food safety. I hope that this is the beginning of a long term process/partnership between players at all points on the supply chain. I also hope that this process will reduce regulatory burdens, and introduce new strategies and methods of food safety assurance that are consistent with the values and goals of farms of all scales and levels of diversity. A common standard, continuously improved on the basis of sound science will help us as we all seek to grow the public confidence in the fresh fruit and vegetable supply, and increase American consumption of healthy fresh foods.
I look forward to your comments and participation in whatever form is appropriate for you,
Steve Warshawer
Food Safety Coordinator
Wallace Center / National Good Food Network
