Workshop – Food Safety Certification for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables (Canada GAP)

Food Safety Certification Workshop for Fresh Fruit & Vegetables

Workshop

Creston, February 19 & 20 This two-day intensive workshop welcomed Food Safety and Education Specialist Elsie Friesen from the BC Ministry of Agriculture to provided information to farmers about the voluntary CanadaGAP food safety certification program for fresh fruits and vegetables.  At this workshop participants learned:

• How to prepare and implement a Good Agricultural Practices program for fruit and vegetable handling, washing and packing, that aligns with the CanadaGAP voluntary food safety certification program;

• What to expect from an on-farm audit to become certified;

• How to start the CanadaGAP record keeping documentation;

• About the Ministry of Agriculture’s Traceability Program and mock recalls; and,

• How to apply for funding opportunities through the Canadian Agricultural partnership (CAP) programs to support on-farm food safety (OFFS) practices.

Resources: CanadaGAP official website, including:

• CanadaGAP audit and certification process 

• CanadaGAP audit checklist

BC Ministry of Agriculture

• Food Safety and Traceability Programs, including: 

  • On-Farm Food Safety (OFFS) Program (provides funding to eligible B.C. farm-based businesses (i.e. growers, packers and ranchers) to address existing food safety issues and improvements)

  • Traceability Adoption Program (available to agriculture, agrifood and seafood businesses to purchase and install traceability systems, practices, technologies and infrastructure).

​Where & When:

• February 19 & 20, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Creston Hotel

Presenter: 

• Elsie Friesen, Food Safety & Education Specialist, BC Ministry of Agriculture