Evaluating the food safety checklist

It is important for buyers of fresh, whole produce to have assurances that safe food handling practices were followed on the farm and during delivery. However, not all produce growers are required to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. Due to cost, many produce farms in Iowa are not GAP certified or certified organic. The purpose of this guide is to help food buyers evaluate the Food Safety checklist submitted by a farmer and identify areas of concern (red flags).