It has come to our attention that growers are using on old self audit checklist for their 2024 audit.  According to USDA the old form was not acceptable after April 30, 2024!  The USDA released the new Harmonized GAP Standard and Harmonized Plus+ Standard Audits in March to give growers the opportunity to update their plans. There are several changes related to section numbers and deleted numbers so if you have your audit plan setup by section number check to make sure they have not changed. Also, eight questions have been added. Following is a summary of those questions:

• G 2.4 – Approved service provider list required (the grower approves the list)
• G 7.2 – A designated recall team is required
• G 7.3 – Must perform a mock recall exercise annually
• G 11.5 – Must have labels and instructions for any water treatment chemical used
• G 11.8 – Compressed air or other gases contacting food or food contact surfaces must be maintained
• F 6.3 – Must have a procedure for storing and handling growing media (e.g., perlite, peat, rock wool, etc.)
• F 9.4 – Re-used water must be treated with a labeled product
• P 5.2 – A master cleaning schedule with standard operating procedures (SOP) must be established

There are two documents for each audit: Harmonized GAP Standard (v 3.0) or Harmonized GAP Plus+ standard (v 5.0). Each audit has a corresponding checklist “Harmonized GAP Combined Checklist (v6.1)” This is the checklist a grower should be using to their self-audit. Remember an older version will not be accepted which means the audit fails.  Go to the Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety website an look under the USDA Audits tab or go to Harmonized GAP | Agricultural Marketing Service (usda.gov) to download the correct versions.

This is the chance for eligible fresh fruit and vegetable growers to recover some of their expenses for implementing food safety practices on the farm.

For 2024:

• Applications are due between July 1, 2024 and January 31, 2025
• Eligible expenses must be between June 26, 2024 and December 31, 2024

For 2025:

• Application is due between January 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026
• Eligible expenses must be between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025

Eligible specialty crop operations can apply for FSCSC by working directly with the Farm Service Agency offices at your local FSA office for details. Applications will be accepted via mail, fax, hand delivery, or electronic means.

How the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program Works

The FSCSC program provides financial assistance for specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in years 2024 and 2025. This program helps offset costs to comply with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements.  FSCSC will cover a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing their certification, as well as a percentage of their related expenses.

Program Eligibility

Eligibility requirements for FSCSC applicants are outlined below. We recommend you review these requirements before initiating your FSCSC application.

To be eligible for FSCSC, an applicant must:

• Have obtained or renewed:

• 2024 food safety certification issued between June 26, 2024, and December 31, 2024
• 2025 food safety certification issued during calendar year 2025.

• Be a specialty crop operation (growing fresh fruits and vegetables); and meet the definition of a small business or very small business.

• A small (farm) business means an applicant that had an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the 3-year period preceding the program year of more than $250,000 but not more than $500,000.
• A very small (farm) business means an applicant that had an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the 3-year period preceding the program year of no more than $250,000.

FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each category of eligible costs based on the percentages and maximum payment amounts.  The FSCSC application and associated forms are available online at  farmers.gov/food-safety.

You are encouraged to contact the Farm Service Agency office about FSCSC, program eligibility, or the application process. You may also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to provide one-on-one assistance.