Dive Brief:
- All shipper/growers who sell produce to Wegmans are now required to prove they've passed a Good Agricultural Practices inspection.
- Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices programs are administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on a voluntary basis. Growers are not required to be certified to sell in the U.S.
- It's not unusual for retail chains to require GAP certifications, particularly for grower/shippers who produce items seen as having high risk of carrying foodborne illness, i.e., bagged salads, spinach and melons.
- What is still fairly unusual is for a chain to require that all produce suppliers -- even small growers -- complete an audit and be certified. That's what Wegmans has done.
Dive Insight:
The GAP inspection process was first implemented in 2002. Since then it has grown in popularity among retailers, and every year seems to bring more grower/shippers and more crops into the program. We understand the economic challenges that small businesses face. And we recognize that GAP inspections may be burdensome for small operations. But foodborne pathogens are an increasingly dangerous public menace.. It no longer makes sense for any business -- regardless of size -- to be able to opt out of one layer of protection. We applaud Wegmans for making this move.
