The GlobalG.A.P. Tour 2011 conference Oct. 17 and 18 in Atlanta will bring together fresh produce industry-leading speakers and delegates to discuss safety and sustainability in the context of Good Agriculture Practices next week.

Among the scheduled sessions are:

— GAP in a Global Perspective: How to Move an Entire Supply Chain Towards Safety and Sustainability

— How GlobalGAP is reducing audit fatigue through efforts with United Fresh’s Produce GAP’s Harmonization Initiative

— Export Markets

— Public Crops Base Workshops

— Global GAP’s Aquaculture Program

Speakers and panelsts include Bruce Feinberg, Senior Director Global Restaurant Quality, McDonald´s Corporation; Samir K. Assar, Director, Produce Safety Staff Office of Food Safety Food and Drug Administration; Juan Alberto Laborín Gómez, Chairman of the Board, México Calidad Suprema.

Also, Jim Jefcoate, Technical Director, IPL, ASDA, Walmart, UK; David Gombas, Senior Vice President, Food Safety and Technology, United Fresh Produce Association; Sharan Lanini, Raw Product Food Safety Manager, Chiquita Brands International; Edward Lee Beckman, CEO, California Tomato Farmers; Bruce Grim, Executive Director, Washington State Horticultural Association; Scott Horsfall, Chief Executive Officer, California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement; José Villalon,Managing Director Aquaculture, World Wildlife Fund, and many others.

The U.S. National Technical Working Group meeting will be held on Oct. 17.

 

The Atlanta conference will be held at the Westin Peachtree Hotel.

GLOBALG.A.P. (formerly known as EUREPG.A.P)  is a private sector body that sets voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products around the world. The aim is to establish one standard for Good Agricultural Practice (G.A.P.) with different product applications capable of fitting to the whole of global agriculture.

GLOBALG.A.P includes annual inspections of the producers and additional unannounced inspections. Its certification is carried out by more than 100 independent and accredited certification bodies in more than 100 countries. It is open to all producers worldwide.