USDA Harmonized GAP Handbook Now Available

July 3, 2019

Ensuring on-farm food safety is a priority for fruit and vegetable producers in the US.  More and more produce buyers are requiring growers to demonstrate that they are trained in on-farm food safety and implementing best growing and handling practices.

The Farmer’s Handbook for the USDA Harmonized GAP Standard was developed to assist small- and mid-scale producer growers in preparing to meet the requirements of this audit and thereby improve their opportunities to access markets for fruit and vegetables.  Content for the handbook was prioritized based on results of a survey of over 100 farm operators who obtained a USDA HGAP audit in 2018, conducted by The Ohio State University Fruit and Vegetable Team leaders Drs. Ilic and Lewis Ivey. 

The development of this handbook was funded through a cooperative agreement with the Agricultural Marketing Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA AMS) and in collaboration with the Initiative for Food and AgriCultural Transformation (InFACT) of the Ohio State University and Carolina Farm Stewardship Association.  

The handbook is free and can be downloaded here.