what improvements they need tomake. Once everything is in place, they book an audit through one of the Certifying Bodies. The certification process costs


between $600 and $1,000, depending on the option a grower requires, the scope of the operation, and the facility location. Funding is available to help growers get certified for the first time. The On FarmFood Safety Program (OFFSP) Implementation provides up to $6,000 to growers to cover the cost of certification under CanadaGAP or other food safety programs (up to $1,000), as well as improvements needed tomeet the requirements of the audit (up to $5,000). Helping growers access the


implementation programis part of the service that Dulat provides. Over the year, he will have a series ofmeetings with each grower, starting in January and February with an orientation meeting to walk through the CanadaGAP process,manual and assessment. In April orMay, he follows up to see what changes have been implemented and to help fill out the application for funding. Once the audit is scheduled, Dulat makes a final visit tomake sure the


grower’s records are in order andmake any last-minute suggestions for improvement. During the audit, certifiers will look


over the grower’s record and inspect the property for things that do not meet the standard. One of themost common issues is improper pesticide or fertilizer storage. These chemicals should be stored with a lock on the door, a sign and proper shelving. In the field, auditors will talk to


pickers at randomto see if they have been trained in food safety protocols, and confirmthey have signed off on the CanadaGAPmanual. They will even look at the vehicles used to transport berries to ensure they are clean and free of contaminants. “One of the big issues is water,” says


Dulat. “Water for handwashing, needs to be potable water. City water is fine, but well water has to be tested for e coli and total coliforms, and the farmer will need to have those results on hand.” Another issue of importance, and


common improvement required, is that growers need tomake is creating a designated lunch break area for their pickers. “In the field, pickers don’t want to go


too far, so some guys have trailers with picnic tables on top,” says Dulat. “What we don’t want pickers to do is eat in the rows, sit on the ground or use buckets for furniture. It’s a possible source of contamination, and it also means they haven’t washed their hands before and after eating.” Once certification is complete,


growers can submit receipts for improvements, along with proof the work was done and that they passed the audit to get compensated. According to Dulat, despite their nervousness, once growers go through the process and pass, they’ll recommend it to their neighbours. “Last year was a big change, and I


think next year there will be evenmore interest,” says Dulat. “Packers are callingme now and they want to get their farmers on board. Theministry put together course for farmers getting audited for the first time in January. In the past we would have had trouble getting people to show up, this time we have to turn people away.” Formore information about


CanadaGAP certification, and to get themanual and pre-audit checklist, visit www.canadagap.ca.


British Columbia Berry Grower • Spring 2014


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