USDA GAP AUDITOR MUST SEE THE CROP IN THE FIELD BEFORE HARVEST

In recent years Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) auditors may or may not have observed a crop in the field that was subject to the audit.  Part of the issue is that the crop in question was not actually in the field at the time of the inspection.  The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, GAP auditors are emphasizing that they must see all crops that are part of the audit prior to harvest.  If they are not there at the time of an audit, an “unannounced visit” will allow the auditor to observe the crop rather than conducting a new audit.