Guidance

Title File
Local Meat in Child Nutrition Programs Document
Kansas Farm to Plate Q&A for Producers Document
Farm Food Safety Checklist Document
Farm to School Assessment Tool Document
Farm to School Documentation for Donated Meat Products Document
Farm to School HACCP Guidance Document
Farm to School HACCP Guidance Document
Farm to School Informal Bid Document Document
Farm to School Sample Vendor Letter Document
Receipt of Donated Produce Document
Storing Fresh Produce Document
Using Garden Produce in Child Nutrition Programs - Q & A Document
Volumes and Conversion Chart Document
Weights and Approximate Processed Yields of Common Fruits and Vegetables Document
 List of USDA/KDA Processors

 

GAP Certification
Good Agricultural Practices, referred to as GAPs, are a set of recommendations that can help assure the safety of locally grown produce. GAPs are standards which apply to on-farm procedures and require farmers to document their agricultural practices. Chemical, microbiological, and physical hazards are evaluated and producers take preventative controls to reduce the opportunity for food contamination.

School districts can require the farmer to be GAP certified. To become GAP certified a formal GAP farm audit must be conducted.  GAP audits are third-party inspections that provide a thorough evaluation of a farm program by a reputable inspector. Formal GAP audits further assure that farms are producing food in the safest manner possible.

There is a cost to the producer associated with getting a formal GAP audit and becoming GAP certified. Third-party GAP certification is not yet mandated by federal law and is voluntary. Growers can conduct their own internal review and take steps to reduce the risk of contamination for their fresh fruits and vegetables.