Good Agricultural Practices Start with Ocean Mist's Food Safety Policy
Food Safety <
 
 

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
 
In October of 1998, the Food and Drug Administration issued a guidance document to the agriculture industry titled “Guide To Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards For Fresh Fruits and Vegetables,” generally known as Good Agricultural Practices, or GAP. This guidance is a science-based document, which outlines good agricultural and management practices that help minimize the risk of microbial food safety hazards in the production, harvest, packing, cooling and transporting of fresh commodities.

CDFA Certified - Member of California Leafy Greens
Ocean Mist’s LGMA Certificate
Since 1998, there have been several updates to GAPs. The most recent one is the GAP Metrics, or leafy greens best practices, which is part of the California Leafy Greens Handler Marketing Agreement (LGMA). The primary function of the Marketing Agreement is to certify that signatories are following best practices outlined in the GAP Metrics and may be differentiated from handlers who have not signed the Marketing Agreement through the official mark of the LGMA.

Ocean Mist Farms not only holds a certificate confirming it is a member of the LGMA and has been audited by government inspectors and found to be in compliance with the GAP accepted by the LGMA board, but it also played a leadership role in the development of the LGMA. Joe Pezzini, Vice President of Operations, was elected to serve as the Chairman of the LGMA Advisory Board and worked closely with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, California Department of Health Services, and members of the produce industry in the development ofthe LGMA.

Our food-safety program reflects the practices outlined in the GAP Metrics and our goal remains the same: to reduce the potential of product contamination to its absolute minimum. Although the LGMA was designed for leafy greens cultivated in California, the goals and policies of Ocean Mist Farms’ food-safety program are consistent across geographical boundaries, with identical requirements outside of California, including Mexico.

For more information on the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement go to: www.caleafygreens.ca.gov

The key elements of our GAP program are:
  • Prevention of problems before they occur
  • Risk assessments
  • Commitment to food safety at all levels
  • Communication throughout the production chain
  • Mandatory employee education program at the operational level
  • Field and equipment sanitation
  • Integrated pest management
  • Oversight and enforcement
  • Verification through independent, third-party audits
Food safety continues to be the highest priority for Ocean Mist Farms. The health and safety of our customers always comes first. Our approach to food safety is holistic, taking full advantage of the vertical integration within our company to implement best practices at every stage of the production cycle, from planting all the way through harvest, processing, cooling and distribution.

We are committed to continuous improvement and will continue our leadership role in research toward advancement in food safety and quality.

 
 
GAP Highlights/
Summary
Farming & Post-Harvest Practices
 
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