GAP update meetings scheduled

    PRESQUE ISLE – The University of Maine Cooperative Extension will host Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) 2008 Update meetings on Wednesday, July 23 from 1-3 p.m. in Room 110 at the University of Maine Houlton Higher Education Center and Thursday, July 24 from 7-9 p.m. in 105 Folsom Hall on the University of Maine at Presque Isle campus.     GAP certification is verification that practices are conducted on the farm to minimize microbial contamination in the production of harvested produce. GAP certification verifies the farm’s adherence to the Food and Drug Administration’s “Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.” (Copies are available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/prodguid.html).
    The USDA GAP audit is voluntary and consists of verifying compliance with the General Questions and some or all of parts 1 through 7. Most potato growers will be involved with the General Questions, Farm Review (part 1), Field Harvest and Field Packing (part 2), and Storage and Transportation (part 4). Many of the audit questions involve practices already being done, but lacking documentation. For most potato growers, passing the audit should not involve a lot of changes, only increased documentation.
    Credits will be available for those holding a valid pesticide applicator license or CCA license.