Industry

Help Us Correct the Spelling of the Sweetpotato – It’s ONE Word!

Did you know that sweetpotato is one word? We’d love your help in teaching the rest of the world (and those super smart dictionary authors) to use the correct spelling and update the dictionary entries. This is not a marketing ploy or us just being cool. It’s science!

Help us create change by adopting the CORRECT spelling of sweetpotato: it is a noun and not an adjective. That means sweet is not a descriptor, but part of the actual nomenclature. This is different than a potato which uses adjectives like white, red or russet to describe an entirely different vegetable.

Go to change.org and sign the petition!

Industry Certifications

Plant Production Compliance Agreements

Compliance agreements are for the allowance of out-of-state shipments and are distributed and managed through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. If you need a compliance agreement or have questions related to compliance please contact the Plant Pest Specialist who covers the region in which you live/farm.

What is GAP?

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) are voluntary audits that verify fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled, and stored as safely as possible to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards

Why should I GAP Certify? 

NC Fresh Produce Safety: Third-Party Auditors

Food safety should be an important issue for sweetpotato producers and taken seriously. Foodborne illnesses and deaths have been highly publicized over recent years.  The loss of consumer confidence over contaminated outbreaks has serious effects on the entire produce industry. Almost without exception, the price of the affected crop drops following an outbreak, resulting in significant economic loss.  The GAP program is a good way for growers to maintain consumer trust as well as prevent contamination.

USDA Auditing Information

NCDA Cooperative Grading Service

NCDA GAP Cost Share Program

What is Global GAP Certification?

G.A.P. stands for Good Agricultural Practice – and GLOBALG.A.P. is the worldwide standard that assures it.

Globally connecting farmers and brand owners in the production and marketing of safe food to provide reassurance for consumers. We lay the foundation for the protection of scarce resources by the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices with a promise for a sustainable future.

If you are planning to ship internationally, or if your packer ships internationally, you should plan on becoming Global G.A.P. certified.

GRASP Certification – Global G.A.P Risk Assessment on Social Practice

The GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP) is an add-on for the evaluation of workers’ well-being at farm level. It covers four major social responsibility topics: workers’ voice, human and labor rights information, human and labor rights indicators, and child and young workers’ protection.

Responsible farming practices aren’t just about products – they’re also about people. The GLOBALG.A.P. Risk Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP) is in addition  to Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) for the evaluation of workers’ well-being at farm level. Farms that are GRASP certified have spent the time to certify that they are attentive  to workers’ health and safety, and covering topics such as labor and human rights, representation of workers, and the protection of children and young workers, GRASP is a demonstration of  their responsible social practices.

What is Organic Certification?

Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods. The organic standards describe the specific requirements that must be verified by a USDA-accredited certifying agent before products can be labeled USDA organic.

USDA Organic Standards

PRIMUSGFS Audit Certification

How do I become certified?

USDA – Becoming organic certified

NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Organic Cost Share Program

NC Fresh Produce Safety: Third-Party Auditors

PrimusGFS

SQF Standard Training

SMETA – Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit