Audit Process

Paying close attention to conditions and practices at the field level are crucial for the safety of Arizona’s leafy greens.

The certified Arizona Leafy Greens members (the shippers) pay a per-carton amount, generating funds that are used to pay for audits that certify that each signatory is in compliance with food safety practices that meet or exceed federal guidelines. The certified members are ultimately responsible for the compliance and assessment of their processes and the integrity of the produce gathered from the growers they work with.

Mandatory and unannounced audits are conducted by USDA-certified auditors contracted by the Arizona Leafy Greens Food Safety Committee through the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Auditors use a 23-page inspection guideline that ties closely to the enhanced food safety practices accepted by the Committee during each audit.

The audits analyze five main areas:

  • General Requirements: Member companies are required to have a complete food safety compliance plan, an up-to-date list of growers and a written trace-back program.
  • Environmental Assessments: Pre-season and pre-harvest assessments are required to make sure conditions that can affect food safety, such as animal intrusions, flooding, proximity to animal feeding operations, etc. are not present, or have been properly mitigated.
  • Water Use: Extensive testing and record-keeping for all sources of water are required.
  • Soil Amendments: Extensive testing, certification and record-keeping for all sources of compost and fertilizers used in the production of leafy greens are required.
  • Worker Practices and Field Observations: Field audits verify that farmers are in compliance with the committee’s requirements in the areas of worker practices and field sanitation.

The goal of the audits is to protect public health by minimizing the risk of food borne pathogens in the fields and farms producing leafy greens. The Committee strives to audit each of its member handlers several times a year and each of the farmers providing product to its members at least once a year.

If a Committee member is found to be out of compliance in any of the five areas, they are issued an infraction. Each infraction is recorded at one of four levels, ranging from a minor infraction to a flagrant violation. Members charged with the most severe infraction will be decertified, which bans them from using the service mark.