WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Produce GAPs Harmonization Initiative continues to move towards streamlined audits and reduced costs with a Harmonized Standards Train-the-Trainer workshop, focused on the use and interpretation of the Post-harvest Operations Harmonized Standards. The course is open to auditors and all interested parties.
The two-day workshop will be held on October 30 and 31 at the headquarters of Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association and Florida Tomato Exchange in Maitland, Florida. The workshop will feature the official training materials developed by the Produce GAPs Harmonization Initiative Calibration Committee, designed to standardize food safety auditors’ expectations of post-harvest packing, holding and cooling operations using the Harmonized Standards. Workshop leaders will include Calibration Committee members from Quality Certification Services, Equicert and USDA AMS Specialty Crops Inspection Division.
“While the Harmonized Standards go a long way to reducing the potential for conflicting food safety expectations, it all comes down to the auditor,” said Dr. David Gombas, United Fresh Produce Association senior vice president of food safety and technology. “Having a single standard doesn’t reduce audit fatigue if different auditors interpret the standards in different ways. This workshop was developed to better calibrate auditors from different audit organizations in how the Harmonized Standards are supposed to be used. We’ll cover the details of what an auditor should expect to see at an operation, how an auditor should judge that operation based on the evidence they see, and how that judgment can change in different situations.”
This is the only workshop planned for 2013, and there are limited spots available, so register today! There is a nominal fee of $50 to attend. Register for the workshop online at http://www.unitedfresh.org/registration.
For more information please contact Erin Grether at egrether@unitedfresh.org or call 202-303-3402. More information about the Harmonized Standards, including downloadable versions of the Field Operations and Harvesting and the Post-harvest Operations standards, is available on the United Fresh Produce Association website at www.unitedfresh.org/gap_harmonization.
Founded in 1904, the United Fresh Produce Association serves companies at the forefront of the global fresh and fresh-cut produce industry, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and Western Regional office in Salinas, Calif., United Fresh and its members work year-round to make a difference for the produce industry by driving policies that increase consumption of fresh produce, shaping critical legislative and regulatory action, providing scientific and technical leadership in food safety, quality assurance, nutrition and health, and developing educational programs and business opportunities to assist member companies in growing successful businesses. For more information, visit www.unitedfresh.org or call 202-303-3400.
Source: United Fresh Produce Association
