Aug 20, 2026
Online Workshop
GAP Audit Prep and Food Safety Plan Writing Workshop, Online
Using good food safety practices on your farm can reduce risks of foodborne illness, improve product quality and open new markets. Join CSU Extension, University of Minnesota, Rutgers University and Kansas State University for a deep dive into on-farm food safety practices you can use right now to reduce risks related to your fresh produce. The day will include practical guidance, tips and science-based best practices to ensure your produce is safe, fresh and wholesome.
When:
· August 20th, 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. MDT: Good Agricultural Practices for fruit & vegetable producers
· August 20th, 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. MDT: Prepare for a GAP audit & write a food safety plan
Date & Location
August 20, 2026This training is online via Zoom.
The course consists of two parts:
The morning is the educational training on GAPs concepts on the farm.
The afternoon is preparing for and passing a GAP audit for your farm.
You can opt to attend just the morning, just the afternoon, or both sessions.
All attendees of the morning session will receive a certificate of attendance.
Morning: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CDT
GAPs for fruit & vegetable farms
Deep dive into best practices for the production and postharvest handling of fresh fruits and vegetables to reduce potential for contamination with foodborne pathogens.
Topics will include compost/manure use, water testing, safely washing vegetables, sanitizer use and guidelines, packing area designs and ideas, coolers, managing wildlife and pets, low-cost handwashing stands, employee training and more.
Time for questions and discussion about using the practices on your farm.
Afternoon: 1 - 3:30 p.m. CDT
Prepare for a GAP audit & write a food safety plan
Do you want to prepare for and pass a GAP audit to sell your fresh produce to a buyer who requires it?
The session will help cover the GAP audit process and your food safety plan so that you can pass an audit if needed.
A farmer and educator from K-State will share what he has learned from years of passing GAP audits on his farm (costs, who to contact, what to expect), how to create a farm map, records, and reviewing the core aspects of a food safety plan. You will have all the information you need to prepare the needed documents for a GAPs audit.
Note that the workshop will focus on the GAP/GHP audit, and will also provide information on the Harmonized GAP and the Harmonized GAP Plus+ audit.
Choose either the morning session only, afternoon session only, or the full day training (both are included for the $20 course fee). All participants of the morning session will receive a certificate of attendance.
https://learning.umn.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=63985641