GLOBALG.A.P. Offers Support to Buyers and Suppliers
PORTLAND, OR - Everyone in the world deserves access to fresh, safe food. The produce industry is a chief champion of this belief, and we couldn’t achieve our goals without the support of tech and services companies like GLOBALG.A.P. To get a closer look at all this company offers, I had the chance to chat with Roberta Anderson, Executive Vice President of GLOBALG.A.P. North America.
“For almost 25 years, GLOBALG.A.P. has been collaborating with both buyers and producers to define standards and procedures that ensure product safety; minimize environmental impact; and maximize the health, safety, and welfare of agriculture workers,” said Roberta. “Our Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)-recognized farm and post-harvest handling certifications are upheld as leading industry standards by both domestic and export markets.”
For producers, GLOBALG.A.P. offers efficient, cost-saving audit solutions that are accepted by both a domestic and global buying audience. These certification standards are based on an individualized risk assessment of each operation that is performed by the farmer. Rather than being a one-size-fits all type of standard, GLOBALG.A.P. makes sure that the risks of each operation are assessed and addressed individually.
For buyers with additional expectations of their suppliers not otherwise covered by the company’s standards, GLOBALG.A.P. develops and operates custom add-on solutions for a streamlined audit process. A database for validating certification information is publicly available, and buyers can gain customized access to ensure in real time that their supply chains meet their certification requirements.
“Our Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) standard is available for markets interested in a more comprehensive certification that includes food safety as well as environmental and worker health and safety requirements,” Roberta continued. “We also offer additional GFSI-recognized standards such as the Harmonized Produce Safety Standard (HPSS), and Produce Handling Assurance (PHA) standard (currently in final stages of GFSI benchmarking process) for food safety-specific needs.”
With evolving food safety concerns and varying standards required by U.S. retailers and global markets, producers are challenged to efficiently and cost-effectively meet all their audit requirements. GLOBALG.A.P. has used its expertise to sharpen and refine a variety of turn-key audit solutions for North America that meet the needs of the supply chain, including small and large producers, U.S. retailers, and export markets.
“GLOBALG.A.P. standards and implementation are developed in consultation with producer and retailer members to ensure optimal compliance flexibility for producers of all sizes and commodities while securing the highest level of food safety assurance retailers can trust,” Roberta told me. “GLOBALG.A.P. is the only set of standards that allows producers and packers to simplify their audit process and decrease costs while increasing their reach to a global buying audience.”
Additionally, GLOBALG.A.P. offers group certifications that can be used by producer groups to streamline the audit process, reducing cost and time. Producers also have the ability to choose from a large pool of GLOBALG.A.P.-approved, accredited certification bodies for their audits.
As you continue to refine your own strategies for increased safety and decreased environmental impact, be sure to check out GLOBALG.A.P.’s exclusive offerings.
