11.3 Good Agriculture Practices (GAP)

Good Agriculture Practices (GAPs) are specific methods that, when applied to agriculture, create food for consumers or further processing that is safe and wholesome. Currently a voluntary certification, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), will require farms to comply with food safety and security measures outlined in the document. In 2011, the Produce GAPs Harmonized Food Safety Standards was released, which require producers to meet standards for biosecurity, sanitation, worker training, and documentation. Information on Produce GAP can be found at (http://www.ams.usda.gov/services/).

Source: Janelle Hager, Leigh Ann Bright, Josh Dusci, James Tidwell. 2021. Kentucky State University. Aquaponics Production Manual: A Practical Handbook for Growers.