Plan of Action (POA) Manual Preparation

USDA Good Agricultural Practices Good Handling Practices Audit Verification Checklist
Complete checklist of questions for all the sections of the audit. Includes a brief explanation for the checklist, along with scoring and points assessed for each question.

USDA GAP/GHP Audit Program User’s Guide
This USDA document provides guidance to the fresh fruit and vegetable industry on the requirements of the USDA Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices Audit Verification Program (GAP&GHP) and prepare for a successful audit. This Guide does not address every specific question on the USDA GAP&GHP audit checklist, but covers all the major topic areas of the audit.

Bridging the GAPS Farm Guide: Good Agricultural Practices and On-Farm Food Safety for Small, Mid-Sized, and Diversified Fruit and Vegetable Farms
A really nice guide to creating a Plan of Action Manual by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

Good Agricultural Practices for Small Diversified Farms: Tips and Strategies to Reduce Risk and Pass an Audit
A guide written by NCSU and the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, which provides many tips for working through the audit process.

Understanding the GAP Plan of Action Manual
This simple set of slides provides an overview of the VCE USDA GAP/GHP Plan of Action manual and its components.

Virginia Cooperative Extension USDA GAP/GHP Plan of Action Manual Files (4th edition)
Downloadable VCE USDA GAP POA Manual Excel Checklist and PDF files.  Also includes Manual Cover Sheet, Table of Contents, and Instructions Sheet.  All other supporting file examples are available for those producers who have been screened and are working with the Fresh Produce Food Safety Team/local VCE agents.

• Basic Manual Files
• Manual Cover Sheet (.pdf)
• Table of Contents (.docx)
• Instructions Sheet (.pdf)
• Demographics Sections questions (.pdf)
• Excel Audit checklist template questions (includes ALL sections of the audit)
• General Questions (.pdf)
• Farm Review (.pdf)
• Field Harvest and field pack (.pdf)
• House pack (.pdf)
• Storage and Transportation (.pdf)
• Sign Masters that can be printed out and laminated as needed
• Signs pptx, pdf
• In home restrooms ppx, pdf
• How to wash hands English
• How to wash hands Spanish

Produce GAPs Harmonized Checklist
On May 1, 2018, the previous HGAP audit checklists (Part 1 and 2) were combined into a new standard. The Harmonized GAP Audit is comprised of four scopes: General Questions, Field Operations and Harvesting, Post-Harvest Operations, and Logo Use. The General Questions scope is required to be completed for every audit. One or both of the Field Operations and Harvesting and/or Post Harvest Scopes will be completed based on the type of operation being audited. The Logo Use scope must be completed for any Operation who intends to use the USDA GAP & GHP Logo on packaging or promotional materials. The new standard includes a brief explanation for the checklist, along with scoring and points assessed for each question, and various industry requirements.

Produce GAPs Harmonized Food Safety Standard
Takes the checklist questions and details, procedures, verification, and corrective actions required for each question.

Produce GAPs Harmonized Plus Checklist
The USDA Harmonized GAP Plus+ Standard is based on the Produce GAPs Harmonized Food Safety Standard developed by the GAPs Harmonization Initiative. Additional requirements are included to align this standard with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Guidance Document Version 7.1, Part III, Scopes of Recognition BI- Farming of Plants, BII- Farming of Grains and Pulses, and D- Pre-Processing Handling of Plant Products. See USDA press release 111-18 for more info.

Produce GAPs Harmonized Plus Food Safety Standard
Takes the checklist questions and details, procedures, verification, and corrective actions required for each question.

FAQ: USDA Aligns Harmonized GAP Program with FDA Food Safety Rule (June 5, 2018)
The USDA and the FDA have aligned USDA’s voluntary Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices Audit Program with the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule. Learn more about what this means.

Produce GAPs Harmonized Food Safety Audit Program: Policies and Procedures
A question-by-question, in-depth guide to the USDA HGAP (both Part 1 and 2) released in February 2016. Note this version was prior to new changes to the checklist updated May 2018; however it is a helpful guide as to what the intent of various questions are and what the inspectors are looking for in terms of verification.

Virginia Cooperative Extension Produce GAPs Harmonized Food Safety Standard Plan of Action Manual Files In order to be in alignment with the newly released May 1, 2018 version of the USDA Produce GAPs Harmonized checklist, the FPFST worked on a new Plan of Action Manual template during the winter/spring of 2018. The Harmonized GAP (HGAP) template includes introduction material, a glossary of terms, and contents for each scope as noted above. Each scope consists of a table of contents, the checklist questions, assessments, standards, logs, and other supporting documents. The template provides an excellent starting point for VCE to work closely with producers pursuing certification.

Given the complexity of the USDA HGAP audit, we encourage you work closely with VCE agents and the FPSFT, who have access to the dozens and dozens of files. Please contact Amber Vallotton at avallott@vt.edu or Ashley Edwards at aledwards@vt.edu for more information.