GAP/GHP- Advanced Food Safety Training Program for Fruit and Vegetable Producers offered April 8

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Department of Agriculture, University of Maryland Extension, and University of Maryland will be conducting an advanced food safety training workshop for fruit and vegetable producers. This one-day workshop is intended for growers who have previously attended a basic GAP training and is important for small- and large- scale producers who want to understand how to meet current FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Rule requirements; are considering Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) certification; or are currently GAP/GHP certified and need to meet continuing education requirements. The training will focus on post harvest food safety issues.

Date and location:

April 8, 2016       Advanced GAP/GHP Training.

Maryland Department of Agriculture, Lower Level Conference Rooms, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, Md.  21401
Workshop site contact Carol Reynolds; email: carol.reynolds@maryland.gov; phone:  410-841-5769

Topics covered include: Highlights of the FDA FSMA Produce Rule presented by the University of Maryland Agriculture Law Education Inititative; Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices including pre-harvest and post-harvest water quality issues; an update on current food safety research; conducting risk assessments; trace-back and recall issues; and state programs to assist producers in implementing GAP/GHP.

Registration, Cost and Location: Registration is required to ensure adequate materials are available.  Download the registration form here. The workshop will take place from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. The fee for the program will be $15, and will cover lunch costs and materials provided to each participant. Attendees will receive a certificate of participation following the program.

The department offers two GAP/GHP certification programs for fruit and vegetable producers.  Md. Dept. of Agriculture GAP certification is geared toward direct marketers or other producers that want to start with a basic food safety program and is available to Maryland fruit and vegetable producers at no cost.  USDA GAP/GHP and USDA Harmonized GAP pre-harvest and post-harvest certification is provided through a cooperative agreement with USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service and is a nationally recognized certification that meets the requirements of many wholesale buyers. USDA specialty crop grant funding is available for cost share of the USDA audit fees.

For more information on these certification programs, contact Deanna Baldwin with the Maryland Department of Agriculture at Deanna.baldwin@maryland.gov or 410-841-5769 or Justine Beaulieu with the University of Maryland at  jbeauli1@umd.edu or  301-405-7543.

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