The Hawaii Farm Bureau and the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture developed a program to improve Hawaii’s agricultural infrastructure through a high-tech RFID statewide food traceability pilot project.
The difficulty in tracing food contamination outbreaks to their source have cost innocent producers millions of dollars and threatened the health of thousands of consumers. In this project, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation and the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture will work with some of Hawaii’s largest and highest quality produce suppliers to pilot test the first state-level food traceability system in the country. This Internet accessible high-tech radio frequency identification device (RFID) based track and trace system will be designed to increase the efficiency, accuracy and traceability of the state’s agricultural supply chain and to serve as a model for the DOD and other states and agencies delivering produce to public and military outlets. While a few Hawaiian farms and supply chain companies have some track and trace capabilities, no comprehensive food traceability program exists to protect the state food supply. This project is supported by a voluntary consortium of food supply chain members many of which are food suppliers for the state’s military installations. The traceability system will undergo a market and sustainability study and should have a positive impact on the environment since participants are dedicated to recycling shipping containers. Furthermore, the ability for a traceability system to rapidly reduce the health impact contaminated foods might have on department of defense and other consumers are enormous.
Good Agriculture Practices Program
GAP [Good Agricultural Practices] Protecting & Serving Produce Farmers & Businesses & Consumers
Focus on Food Safety Video - click here
"Safe Produce - GAP Flyer" - click here
"Safe Produce - GAP Flyer Order Form" - click here
"GAP Program - Client Information Sheet" - click here
CTAHR/UH Food Safety Website - click here
Food Safety Certified Farms in Hawaii - click here
This essential food safety and security program provided GAP [Good Agricultural Practices] Certification to small famers absolutely dependent on wholesale revenues and in dire need of safety and security assistance.
Hawaii’s island community is unique as we are highly dependent on imports in every aspect of our lives. Food, clothing, accessories, cars, fuel, furnishings, toys are all brought to our state from via ocean or air. Geographically we are strategically located for access to the East and West and have always welcomed the opportunity to accept the best from all worlds. In the not too distant past, transportation costs were affordable, bringing ready-made products into our state was an easy solution especially with “just in time” delivery.
Seven days of food on the islands. Unbelievable is the first thought however studies from the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture offers empirical evidence that this is indeed the situation we are facing. Hawaii’s main economic engine – Tourism – already in an economic downturn, would face immense challenges to say nothing of the independent consumer. Addressing the supply chain in Hawaii, enhancements in food safety and security as well as GAP certification are integral to a continued success.
Good Agricultural Practices are guidelines established to ensure a clean and safe working environment for all employees while eliminating the potential for contamination of food products. The GAP program addresses the issues of site selection, adjacent land use, fertilizer usage, water sourcing and usage, pest control and pesticide monitoring, harvesting practices (including worker hygiene; packaging storage; field sanitation and product transportation) and cooler operations. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are developed and incorporated into the GAP program providing guidance with respect to potential points for contamination and preventative or corrective measures to mitigate their effects.
Food Safety issues are a “train wreck waiting to happen” in Hawaii. GAP certification is required by all growers wanting to work with commissaries; cruise lines; major restaurants and supermarkets. The Commissaries have enforced the GAP requirement and many individual companies that were servicing the stores were no longer able to sell their products to them. The pre-cursor to RFID traceability systems is GAP certification.
