That’s why the University of Georgia is offering a special
training, “Passing the Georgia GAPs Food Safety Audit” July 23
in Moultrie, Ga., and Aug. 8 in Vidalia, Ga.

The Georgia GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices) certification and
audit requires growers and packers to develop food safety plans
similar to those used by food processors. GAPs focus on eight
potential contamination or safety hazard points in growing and
handling produce.

The one-day UGA program will give fresh-produce growers and
packers hands-on training on designing and putting GAPs into
place in their own operations. Participants will be eligible to
get a third-party audit for a greatly reduced fee.

Once the audit certifies a farm is following food safety
guidelines, the grower or packer will be certified by the
Georgia Department of Agriculture and can put the certification
seal on packaging.

Each program will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. The Moultrie
workshop will be at the Colquitt County Agri-Complex on U.S.
Highway 319. The Vidalia program will be at the Vidalia
Community Center a block off U.S. Highway 280 on Old Airport
Road.

Participants must preregister by July 18 for the Moultrie
program or Aug. 5 for Vidalia. A $20 fee covers lunch and other
costs.

To learn more or preregister, contact the nearest county office
of the University of Georgia Extension Service. Or call GAPs
field coordinator George Ponder at
(229) 392-3846 or UGA food scientist Bill Hurst at (706) 542-
2574. Or go to the Web at www.ugatiftonconference.org/events.htm.