Print

Good Agricultural Practices



Domestic and international growers face many challenges during production, post harvest handling, and distribution of fresh produce. Preventing microbial contamination requires an integrated approach to train workers, who must understand their role in reducing foodborne illness, and have the knowledge to improve farming practices. JIFSAN’s International Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Train-the-Trainer Program focuses on providing exporting countries with an adaptable framework of practices. Trainees then teach farmers and growers the concepts and best practices currently available to reduce microbial food safety risks. These practices, when widely disseminated and implemented, improve the safety of fresh produce exported to the U.S.A.

What are GAPs?

GAPs are the basic environmental, human health, and sanitary operational practices that are necessary for the production of safe, wholesome fruits and vegetables. While controlling every source of microbial contamination on the farm is impossible, there are many strategies that can be implemented to reduce the risk. The Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables covers agricultural and postharvest water uses, manure and biosolids, worker health and hygiene, field and facility sanitation, transportation, and traceback.

What is the GAPs Train-the-Trainer Program?

The GAPs Train-the-Trainer Program is a five-day in-country training course for extension specialists or their equivalent and other individuals from the country with responsibilities for education and outreach on produce/food safety. The course is presented by a teaching team of US government representatives and academic faculty.

A typical program includes lectures, presentations, problem analysis, farm and production facility visits and evaluation. A key component of the program is the on farm and production facility visit. These visits allow the participants to evaluate their local practices and make recommendations for improvement under the guidance of the teaching team.

The GAPs recommendations are globally applicable and independent of location or agricultural and industrial circumstances. Future trainers can use the manual and materials free of charge. The course includes a module on Effective Training to assist in developing the best program to fit available teaching resources, audience needs and cultural and political circumstances.

The GAPs Train the Trainer Program has been held in Brazil, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Korea, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Thailand, and Trinidad.

Is GAPs Effective?

After a dozen training programs had been offered it was decided to have an independent evaluation of GAPs to see if our efforts were effective and to guide further development. The independent evaluation team recently reported. We provide several excerpts from their report which attest to the success of GAPs in meeting its goals.

  • "Review participants were unanimous in the view that JIFSAN training was a powerful adjunct in creating greater awareness and sensitizing producers and packers of the seriousness of microbial food safety issues"
  • "positive changes were reported especially in irrigation water quality awareness, animal exclusion from fields and packing operations, post harvest handling of produce, involving greater care during harvesting to reduce wounding, washing of produce in portable or treated water and ensuring that produce is properly packed in appropriate and clean containers. Workers are being trained in personal hygiene, proper hand washing techniques and proper use of sanitary facilities."
  • "the JIFSAN courses have had a significant role in stimulating change directly and indirectly."
  • "participant’s presentations made it clear that the outcome has been to impact the adoption and implementation of GAPs and aspects of GMPs."
  • "the JIFSAN effort as significantly contributing to the evolution of a culture that is imbedding these practices in the every day activities and lifestyles of the countries visited."
  • "The Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN), a multi-disciplinary research and education institute established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the University of Maryland (UM) in 1996, is taking the lead for FDA in organizing international training programs on Good Agriculture Practices (GAPS) for the safe production of fresh fruits and vegetables. JIFSAN (UM) is the major component of FDA's integration with academic institutions to create intellectual partnerships."