MU Extension is financially assisting Missouri produce growers in getting certified by the USDA for Good Agricultural Practices, or GAP, which monitors food safety.
GAP certification is a program requiring produce growers to keep records of their food safety plans. The plans are then audited by the USDA.
Debi Kelly is a field specialist in horticulture at MU Extension. She said one of the primary areas of inspection is a produce grower’s water source, even for those who use rain water.
“We think that we are saving a lot of good water because it comes from the sky, but how many birds sit on a roof? How many birds might defecate on that roof?” said Kelly. “The rain water comes down and it goes into those rain barrels and there are e-coli or other types of contaminates that might be in that water as well.”
The purpose of the GAP certification program is to monitor food safety practices utilized by produce farmers.
Kelly said GAP certification is typically “buyer required” by large grocers. This means that without the certification, produce growers can miss out on big business opportunities.
Londa Nwadike, an MU Extension food safety state specialist, said getting certified helps the Missouri market and its citizens.
“It’s really to help produce growers’ profitability,” said Nwadike. “But then also just to have more fresh, local Missouri produce available in our schools and grocery stores.”
MU Extension is offering the financial assistance through Sept. 1 as long as there are funds. According to Kelly, GAP certification is not new to the state of Missouri but its popularity has increased amid media reports on food contamination.