Understanding the USDA Harmonized GAP Third-Party Audit: A farmer’s journey

Some produce buyers may require their growers to obtain a third-party audit certification. These audits are voluntary and conducted annually by an independent auditor. Growers may be audited using one of several audit schemes including USDA Harmonized GAP, GLOBAL G.A.P., Canada GAP, Primus GFS, and others. Before pursuing third-party audit certification, growers should check with their buyers to verify which audit schemes they accept.

Preparing for a third-party food safety audit can be challenging for produce growers, particularly when navigating audit requirements, understanding the audit scope, and determining which documentation and practices are required. To help growers better understand the process, Safe Produce Indiana developed a four-part educational video series focused on the USDA Harmonized GAP Third-Party Audit. The videos were developed while working with the Purdue Student Farm to help them prepare for their first audit, and they chronicle the journey of a real farm seeking third-party certification. The series provides practical guidance on the audit process and highlights key areas that growers should consider when preparing their farms for an audit. Funding for this project was supported by the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant program through the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.

The Purdue Student Farm played an important role in developing the video series by providing a real-world production environment where food safety practices and audit-related procedures could be demonstrated. The Purdue Student Farm involvement also provided valuable experiential learning opportunities for Purdue students, connecting classroom instruction with practical applications of produce safety and agricultural production. Whether you are a small-scale producer just beginning to explore food safety audits or an established farm looking to strengthen your food safety program, the Safe Produce Indiana team is available to provide guidance, resources, and technical assistance. We encourage you to reach out to us with questions or for assistance preparing for your next third-party audit.

Watch the Video Series

The series provides practical guidance on the audit process and highlights key areas that growers should consider when preparing their farms for an audit.

Video 1: “Introduction to the Harmonized GAP Third-Party Audit,” which introduces growers to the purpose of a third-party audit and provides an overview of the Harmonized GAP program. It helps growers understand why food safety audits are conducted and how they can evaluate the effectiveness of a farm's food safety practices.

Video 2: “Understanding Audit Scope and Process” focuses on the scope of an audit and the different steps involved in the auditing process. Understanding audit scope is important because it helps growers determine which crops, production areas, activities, and food safety practices will be evaluated.

Video 3, “General Questions, Field Operations, and Post-Harvest Operations,” addresses important areas of farm food safety, including questions auditors may ask and practices associated with both field and post-harvest operations.

Video 4: “Harmonized GAP Audit Process,” which provides additional information about the audit process and reinforces the importance of preparation, documentation, and consistent implementation of food safety practices.

For more information, contact:

Amanda Deering, adeering@purdue.edu, 765-494-0512

Tari Gary, tgary@purdue.edu, 765-494-8271

Scott Monroe, jsmonroe@purdue.edu, 812-888-7401