GAPs Online Course

GAPs Online Produce Safety Course schedule  

  • March 6 - March 26, 2024 - CANCELLED
  • April 3 - April 23, 2024
  • June 5- June 25, 2024
  • August 7 - August 27, 2024
  • October 9 - October 29, 2024

Course Information

Implementing Good Agricultural Practices is a 3-week web-based course intended to improve your understanding of GAPs to guide assessment of risks and implementation of practices to reduce risks on fresh produce farms. Taking this course will not result in your farm being "GAPs Certified". GAPs certification is done by a third party (e.g. USDA, Primus, Global GAP) and involves the successful completion of an on-farm audit. 

As you consider taking the GAPs Online Produce Safety Training Course, be aware that this course is not currently equivalent to the required supervisor training described in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule 21 CFR Subpart C § 112.22(c). This GAPs Online Produce Safety Training Course may, however, satisfy training requirements as described in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule in §§ 112.21(a) and (b).  

The Produce Safety Alliance offers in-person training that meets the requirement in § 112.22(c) of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. Up coming courses are posted on the PSA Grower Training Course website. You can also sign up for the PSA Listserv to receive the most current information related to educational and training opportunities, FSMA updates, and produce safety research and events.

Class size is limited to 25 people on a first come, first serve basis. A minimum of 10 participants must be registered for us to offer the course. Special arrangements can be made for large groups to ensure everyone is in the same class together. The course price is $225.  

Once the course opens, it is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day for 3 weeks so you will be able to complete the course when time permits in your schedule. There are no required hours of participation. Most students spend 15 to 20 hours on this course, but depending on your knowledge, more or less time may be required. There is an instructor. The instructor may schedule office hours but you are not required to attend these hours. You will be able to email your instructor at all times during the course and they will respond in a timely manner. All course requirements must be completed within the 3 week window. You may communicate any problems you are having to your instructor or to the eCornell help desk so that they can provide assistance and guidance. 

Within the three weeks you are expected to:

  • Complete a pre and post test
  • Read all course materials
  • Turn in 4 assignments for evaluation
  • Complete 2 self-tests
  • Contribute to the discussion boards.
  • Complete Course Evaluation

Module One: Welcome to Implementing GAPs: A Key to Produce Safety
1.0.0 Module Home Page
         1.1.0 About This Course
Module Two: Shared Responsibility in Food Safety
2.0.0 Module Home Page
         2.1.0 Reasons for Engagement                      
         2.2.0 Module Wrap-Up
Module Three: Good Agricultural Practices
3.0.0 Module Home Page
         3.1.0 Worker Training, Hygiene, and Health                
         3.2.0 Water Use
         3.3.0 Postharvest Water Use
         3.4.0 Soil Amendments                     
         3.5.0 Cleaning and Sanitation
         3.6.0 Traceability and Recall
         3.7.0 Crisis Management
         3.8.0 Other Important Practices
         3.9.0 Module Wrap-Up
Module Four: Implementing Change
4.0.0 Module Home Page
          4.1.0 Education and Training in Food Safety                               
          4.2.0 Building the Plan
          4.3.0 Module Wrap-Up
Module Five: Course Conclusion
5.0.0 Module Home Page
          5.1.0 Concluding Activities

Development of this course and its content has been a collaborative effort between professionals in government, academia, and industry with funding from the USDA, so we hope you enjoy the course and increase your produce food safety knowledge!

Questions or Concerns?

Contact Don Stoeckel at dstoeckel [at] cornell.edu (subject: GAPs%20Online%20Course) (dstoeckel[at]cornell[dot]edu) or (614) 634–0884

GAPs Listserv

E-mail Michele Humiston (mmc15 [at] cornell.edu (subject: GAPs%20Online%20Course%20Listserv) (mmc15[at]cornell[dot]edu)) if you wish to receive e-mail notifications of future online course dates and open registrations, or if you wish to be removed from the GAPs online course listserv.