This is the time of year when growers start to think about scheduling there USDA Harmonized and Harmonized Plus+ Audits.  There have been changes to both audits which take affect May 1.  Growers should download the latest versions from https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/auditing/gap-ghp/harmonized.  The Harmonized Audit is version 2 dated February 8, 2021 and the Harmonized Plus+ with the same date is version 3.  If anyone is still getting the GAP/GHP audits there are no changes.

There are changes to both the Harmonized and Harmonized Plus+.  New questions for the Harmonized Audit include:  G-8.2, G-10.7, G-12.1, G-12.2, P-3.1, P-8.2 and P-8.4.  Amended questions include: G-3.2, G-10.1, G-10.3, G-10.6, G-10.8, G-10.10, G-10.12, G-10.16 and G-10.19.  All of these apply to the Harmonized Plus+ in addition to four new questions:  F-8.2.c, P-6.5.a, P-3.1.a and P-9.4.a.  Two questions were also amended:  G2.2.2 and G-6.1.a.

Other than the new questions which must be reviewed and addressed in the food safety plan there are certain things audits will be stressing this year.  One is G-3.2 related to documentation and protection of those documents.  Documents must be maintained for two years and be available for review.  The one document which has not been assessed in the past is the portable toilet record.  This year they will be checking for it.  There are two ways growers can comply.  First make sure the starting and ending dates are on your contract for the portable toilets.  Also, take a picture of the log inside the toilet door at least at the end of the season.  It may make sense to do it mid-season and at the end.  Maintain those photos with your other documents.

The second is F-8.2 related to cleaning and sanitizing equipment, vehicles, tools and utensils and their storage.  There needs to be a schedule for those activities and records must include the date and method of cleaning and sanitizing.  One thing that gets overlooked at times are knives for field harvesting of vegetables and herbs.  These must be included, and the auditors will be looking for the logs this year.

Example templates are being updated on the Food Safety website https://onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu/ that will include most of what would be needed for an audit.  These can be modified to fit any operation.

As part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) the New Jersey Department of Agriculture in coordination with Rutgers Cooperative Extension are again offering an OFRR to any operation that has taken the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Training.  The PSA training is required for fresh produce operations to comply with FSMA with sales over $25,000.  We have been doing OFRRs over the last two years (approximately 100) and want to continue this service during 2021.  So, what is the OFRR?  It is a walkthrough of the farm operation to assess where it may need for make changes to comply with FSMA prior to an inspection.  Generally, two individuals will be on the assessment team one from Extension and one from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.  These reviews take approximately 2 hours and is scheduled to fit into the grower’s time.  To schedule a review email Charlotte Muetter at charlotte.muetter@ag.nj.gov.  She will then contact the farm operation to schedule the review.

The Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety Team has developed three video presentations.  Clip on  Three On The Go Webinars For the Busy Grower  to view the three videos listed below.

 Introduction to Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and USDA Audits.  Find out the differences between FSMA inspections and USDA audits. Who do they apply to and who does the inspection or audits?

Building Your One-Way Street: Backflow Prevention and Your Farm.  Learn what backflow is, how to evaluate your operations and how to prevent problems with backflow to protect your packed produce.

How to Use Best Practices for On-Farm Recordkeeping.  Tried and true strategies for organized record keeping that complies with FSMA and will prepare you for USDA audits.