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.
