Prepare for your food safety audits

Anyone who has not scheduled their audit should be aware of the documentation that must be sent to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture prior to the audit. They will want to see a copy of your food safety plan, proof of your food safety training, any current water testing, training records for all staff, ten days of supporting documentation (for example – food safety equipment cleaning and disinfection, wildlife monitoring, approved supplier list, etc.), a simulated recall and a self-audit. Why do they want the records before the audit? This will save them time and allow the grower to save money by spending less time on the farm.

Audits can be scheduled in two ways: by calling the NJDA office at 856-839-3388 or by visiting (email protected). There is a new application form, so if you have an old form contact them for the new one. The request must be made at least two weeks before the audit.

Need for multiple audits
Crops may be grouped upon initial request for inclusion in the audit. The audit should be planned in such a way that the auditor can see the different types of harvesting activities. For an example of asparagus and tomatoes, if the asparagus is harvested during the initial audit while the tomatoes are growing but will not be ready to harvest until a later date, the initial audit may cover both products, but an unannounced audit would be used by the auditor to observe the tomato harvest. Additionally, the auditor will want to see all crops listed on the audit request form.

The auditee has the possibility to request that the products be distributed across different audits. To certify two audits that take place at different times for different products, the audited entity will need to inform the auditor of its intention to carry out two audits during the season. There would be a separate audit carried out, a certificate for each audit and a website publication for each audit. Certification dates would be separate for each audit performed.

USDA audit rates increase October 1, 2024
Anyone who obtains a GAP, Harmonized, or Harmonized Plus audit through the New Jersey Department of Agriculture will see rates increase in October. The base hourly rate will increase from $155.00 to $163.00. Those who achieve Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification will receive an additional $250.00 for each audit.

Source: plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu