PA farm receives national safety & quality certification.

Phillips Mushroom Farms, Kennett Square, PA, is the first mushroom farm in the nation to receive a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification, PA Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff recently announced. The joint federal and state audit measures safety and quality steps taken during the growing and handling of agricultural products.

"Pennsylvania is the world leader in mushroom production, so it is fitting that one of our mushrooms farms is the first to pass this Good Agricultural Practices audit," said Wolff. "In light of recent public interest regarding the growing and handling of fresh produce, this certification is a terrific step in reassuring consumers that our state's producers strive to be among the safest in the world."

The GAP audit is a voluntary farm practice quality inspection conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The audit covers a wide range of safety concerns, including worker hygiene, harvesting and packaging practices, water quality, manure and waste management and traceability of products to and from the farm. GAP audits are primarily performed at fresh fruit and vegetable growing facilities and include the company's packing and shipping departments.

One of nearly 80 mushroom farms in a 25-mile radius, Phillips Mushroom Farms has been in operation since the 1920s. Phillips is a member of the PA Preferred program, which helps shoppers identify locally grown products that meet certain quality standards.

HISTORY OF THE GAP & GHP PROGRAMS

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture made the initial request to develop a GAP and Good Handling Practices (GHP) Audit Verification Program as a result of NJ growers and packers being asked by retailers to demonstrate their adherence to these programs. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) responded favorably to this request and to similar requests from the Association of Fruit and Vegetable Inspection and Standardization Agencies, a group of state program managers who represent the interest of inspection programs at the state level.

AMS works with states to provide an audit-based verification program that will attest to participants' voluntary adherence to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. Participants are audited against a checklist that demonstrates adherence with GAPs and GHPs.

Coordination is provided by the Federal-State Inspection Service (FSIS) via cooperative agreements between the state agencies and AMS. Primary users include fresh fruit and vegetable growers, packers, shippers and others in the marketing chain.

The program provides the following benefits:

* Federal and state inspection service staff members perform independent third-party audits.

* USDA oversight ensures integrity and uniformity throughout the nation.

* Auditors are licensed fresh fruit and vegetable inspectors, and are trained in auditing and program specifications.

* Services are available in many locations throughout the country, including shipping and packing facilities.

* Passing audit results are posted on USDA's Web site and accessible to participants and their customers.

* Successful participants receive a USDA certificate that is suitable for display.

PA PREFERRED PROGRAM

The PA Preferred Program assists Pennsylvania farmers by encouraging consumers to purchase Pennsylvania products. The program gives consumers confidence that PA Preferred products are grown and processed under some of the world's most stringent food safety standards. To participate in the program, at least 60 percent of the raw product has to be grown and harvested in the Commonwealth or 100 percent of the final manufacturing process and packaging has to be done in Pennsylvania.

For more information on Good Agricultural Practice audits, visit www.ams.usda.gov click on "Fruit and Vegetables," and then "Fresh Produce Grading and Quality Certification." For more information on PA Preferred, visit www.papreferred.com