Q. Each year, does a producer/packer have to get/print off a NEW manual(s)?
A. No. The requirement (found in Section 24) is that a producer/packer ONLY needs to update the PAGES that have changed. These are available in the
revisions documents. Each year, producers/packers may use the same manual (they need to review each section and add/delete/change items as necessary), adding and replacing any pages as needed to keep the version current, make their own updates to pages where something has changed in their operations, and sign the confirmation log at the bottom of each section to show that they are successfully completing the requirements within the program.
Q. What kind of detail should I look for on Form H2 under Weather Conditions?
A. This does not need to be very detailed. Just some general descriptions such as “windy” or “raining” are acceptable. Look for details that could affect the efficacy of the chemical or contribute to spray drift.
Q. The Auditee is using custom made forms and not the CanadaGAP forms for their checklists. Can I still give them full marks?
A. The checklists provided in the OFFS manuals are templates only. If the producer, storage intermediary or packer is using their own forms, they can get full marks if they have captured all of the required elements.
Q. A producer/packer is field packing – do they use Form C or Form D to train employees?
A. The producer should be using Form C – Employee Personal Hygiene and Food Handling Practices Policy – Production Site.
Q. If the producer/storage intermediary/packer is using an electronic system (e.g. Ag Expert - Field Manager Pro Software) to keep records, should they lose marks if they don’t print off the forms and sign the confirmation update log?
A. The forms do not have to be printed, BUT the confirmation update log (and other places that require a name/signature) must be filled in. The person responsible for the OFFS program could put an electronic signature or type their name into the appropriate box with the date. This fulfills the intent of the requirement. They could also print off a single page with a list of all the documents that were checked and put the signature/name and appropriate dates beside each record when they do the confirmation.
Q. Is it acceptable for producers/storage intermediary/packers to fill out their record keeping forms with pencil?
A. Yes, pencil is acceptable. For some producers who are working outside and filling out record keeping forms in the cold weather, a pencil will work much better than ink. If the concern is that entries in pencil can be altered, keep in mind that it can be just as easy to alter forms completed in ink or electronically.
Q. What is the scope of the CanadaGAP program?
A. The CanadaGAP OFFS Manuals are intended for use by companies producing, packing and storing fruits and vegetables in Canada. Packing includes field packing and both on and off farm packinghouses. The program does not cover re-packing activities (see the CPMA Repacking and Wholesale Food Safety Program).
1. Fruit and Vegetable OFFS Manual: covers field/orchard/vineyard-grown crops (i.e., Combined Vegetable, Leafy Vegetable and Cruciferae, Potato, Small Fruit, and Tree and Vine Fruit)
2. Greenhouse OFFS Manual: covers greenhouse-grown product for fresh market.
For comprehensive information about the scope of the program, refer to the details in each manual. Crop groupings, individual commodities, and information about destination markets are specifically identified.
Q. What commodities does the CanadaGAP program cover?
A.The ONLY commodities covered by the program are:
1. Fruit and Vegetables:
- Small Fruit: Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Blueberries (High Bush, Wild), Cranberries, Saskatoon Berries, Currants (Red, Black) and Other (Gooseberries, Elderberries, etc.)
- Potatoes
- Combined Vegetables: Asparagus, Sweet Corn, Legumes (Beans and Peas), Bulb and Root Vegetables [Garlic, Beets, Carrots, Onions, Radish, Parsnips, Rutabaga, Turnips, Shallots and Other (Horseradish, Sweet Potatoes, etc.)] and Fruiting Vegetables (Peppers, Eggplant, Melons, Pumpkins, Squash, Cucumbers and Tomatoes)
- Leafy Vegetable and Cruciferae: Leafy (Lettuce, Spinach, Edible Flowers, Mixed Greens, Baby Salad Greens, Asian Greens, Arugula, Green Onions, Leeks, Swiss Chard and Kale), Head [Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Radicchio, Kohlrabi and Lettuce (Iceberg, Romaine, etc.)], Leaf of Root Crops (Belgian Endive, Dandelion Greens, Beet Greens, Turnip Greens and Corn Salad), Fresh Leafy Herbs (Parsley, Cilantro, Fresh Dill, etc.) and Petioles (Celery, Fennel, Rhubarb)
- Tree and Vine Fruit: Pome Fruits (Apples, Pears, Quince),
- Stone Fruits: [Peaches, Plums, Apricots, Nectarines, Cherries (Sour and Sweet), and Sea Buckthorn] and Vines (Grapes, Kiwi)
2. Greenhouse:
- Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Eggplant, Leafy Greens (including microgreens), Fresh Herbs and Edible Flowers
Q. What if a producer grows a commodity (e.g., oranges, bananas) that is not listed above? Can they have that commodity certified by CanadaGAP?
A. No. Only those commodities listed above can be CanadaGAP certified. The reason for this is that for each of the commodities covered within the scope of the CanadaGAP program, the practices used to grow them have been put through a HACCP analysis. This means that all of the hazards (biological, chemical and physical) that may be present in the production of the commodity have been considered and requirements (those within the manuals) have been put in place to reduce the risk at the farm level through good agricultural practices. The commodities that are not listed have not undergone this hazard analysis by CHC; thus there may be requirements that are missing, unnecessary or unknown based on the commodity.
Q. If the scope of the CanadaGAP program only covers packing, then what is the definition of repacking and who covers this?
A. Re-packing would be defined as:
Re-packing: Removing market product from its market ready packaging materials**, handling the product (e.g., sorting, grading, trimming, washing, fluming, etc.) and putting it into market ready packaging materials.
** Market ready packaging materials are defined as:
Containers that will go to food service, retail (including retail wholesaler/ broker/distribution centre) or directly to the end consumer. There are two types:
1) Market ready PRIMARY packaging materials that come into direct contact with product (e.g., boxes, bags, clam shells, crates, baskets, pints); and
2) Market ready SECONDARY packaging materials (e.g., masters) that may be reused and do not come into direct contact with product.
Re-packing is covered by:
The CPMA Repacking and Wholesale Standard (For more information refer to http://cpma.ca/en/food-safety/repackingandwholesalefoodsafetyprogram.aspx).
Q2. A producer is growing edamame (fresh young soybeans that are harvested green), can he or she be CanadaGAP certified?
A. Yes. The producer would follow the Combined Vegetable Manual. Edamame would fall under beans. For other types of soybean production (i.e., where soybeans are left to fully mature and to dry/cure in the field before being harvested) the CanadaGAP program does not cover that. Those types of soybeans would be covered under the Canadian Grain Council’s On-Farm Food Safety program http://www.canadagrainscouncil.ca/.