Whole Foods Market just announced that it became a GLOBALG.A.P. retail member in August.

“Whole Foods Market requires that all produce vendors and their suppliers operate using risk-based food safety plans created after performing a risk assessment to identify potential food safety hazards. Additionally, it requires that vendors of high-risk produce (such as salads, melons and green onions) have a 3rd party food safety audit, preferably to GFSI-recognized schemes, including GLOBALG.A.P's Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA-Crops-Fruit & Veg) and Produce Safety Standard (PSS)."

GLOBALG.A.P. has worked with Whole Foods Market to benchmark its IFA standard to the Responsibly Grown system to identify overlapping requirements and simplify compliance for IFA-certified producers. We are currently exploring ways to further develop a streamlined audit process for growers seeking IFA certification and a verified Responsibly Grown rating.

“Whole Foods Market launched Responsibly Grown with the goal of addressing some of the most critical agricultural issues we're facing today, and to reward growers who are taking major steps to protect human health and the environment. We're proud to be working with partners like GLOBALG.A.P. to address these important issues, benchmark achievements and raise the bar across the industry.” says Robin Foster, Whole Foods’ Responsibly Grown team leader.

“GLOBALG.A.P.'s partnership with Whole Foods Market is a great example of our commitment to developing efficient, pragmatic approaches to food safety and sustainability assurance. The more we can do to acknowledge similarities in standards, the better we can eliminate unnecessary duplication of efforts, saving both time and money for growers.” says Roberta Anderson, a GLOBALG.A.P. sustainability consultant.

Whole Foods Market--known for supporting organic, nonGMO and locally-grown fresh produce--is headquartered in Austin, TX. Currently there are 420 U.S. and Canadian locations in addition to 9 stores in England and Scotland.

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