GAP training for Washington potato industry
Farm and Ranch May 22, 2009 Good Agricultural Practices for the Washington potato industry are the subject of two workshops that are quickly approaching. The free GAP sessions are put on by the Washington State Potato Commission and its executive director Chris Voigt explains when and where they will be.
Voigt: “This is something we try to do every year. We have two training sessions coming up. The first one is May 29th and it will be at Big Bend Community College in the ATEC Center. The next one would be on June 1st at the Pasco Red Lion, also starting at 10:00 a.m.”
Voigt says the majority of each training session will be a refresher; Voigt: “But there are some possible changes to the USDA GAP program, which covers food safety issues. So we are going to provide the latest information at those workshops.”
Why is Good Agricultural Practices certification important?
Voigt: “Actually it is a federal requirement now. Any food processor who sells food to the government procurement program, like the school lunch program, has to ensure that all of its growers that supply product to the processor have been GAP certified and have gone through food safety certification.”
Again those free GAP training sessions are May 29th at Big Bend Community College at the ATEC Center in Moses Lake and June 1st at the Pasco Red Lion. Both start at ten a.m.
That is the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I’m Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
