Features Business Food Safety
CanadaGAP program under new ownership

November 13, 2012, Ottawa, Ont — CanadaGAP, the national food safety program for fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers, is now operated by CanAgPlus, a new Canadian not-for-profit corporation that will operate CanadaGAP independently of the program’s founding organization, the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC).

CanadaGAP was first launched as a food safety certification program in 2008 and has achieved international recognition. More than 2,000 fresh produce suppliers are currently enrolled for CanadaGAP certification.

Under the new corporation, CanadaGAP program requirements and the audit and certification process will remain the same for program participants and for certification bodies delivering third party audits. However, the change in ownership creates new opportunities for those enrolled in CanadaGAP. Program participants will become members of CanAgPlus, offering new rights and privileges to attend annual general meetings, submit resolutions, elect the board of directors, etc. 

“CHC has worked long and hard to ensure that horticultural producers are well positioned to be competitive and respond to market demands, and food safety is key. We are proud of the success that CanadaGAP has achieved and the integration initiative was a logical next step,” said CHC executive vice-president Anne Fowlie.

CanAgPlus was formed in a move to integrate CanadaGAP and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA)’s Repacking and Wholesale Food Safety Program.

“CanAgPlus looks forward to delivering CanadaGAP to the fresh produce industry,” stated Tom Byttynen, chair of the CanAgPlus board. “The new corporate structure will provide benefits to members and engage a broader stakeholder base while effectively managing the liability of the programs’ founding organizations.”

The fully integrated program is not yet available, although work is actively progressing and will continue into 2013.

Visit the CanadaGAP program’s new website at www.canadagap.ca.