Any grower, packhouse, wholesaler, transport operator or industry supplier involved in the production, packaging and distribution of fresh fruit, vegetables, olives or flowers in New Zealand can become an Approved Supplier.
Both domestic and international suppliers can become Approved Suppliers. While originally developed for the local market, New Zealand GAP is increasingly being accepted by overseas markets. The programme has also been expanded to include export markets by benchmarking the programme to the world retailer's association Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and GLOBALGAP.
Why You Should Become Accredited:
Increasingly accreditation to a quality assurance programme is a condition of supply. To gain and maintain market access, growers must now be able to demonstrate a commitment to food safety, environmental and quality assurance issues, New Zealand GAP allows you to do that.
New Zealand GAP is supported by all major fresh produce retailers and wholesalers in New Zealand, by making accreditation as an Approved Supplier a condition of market access. It is also supported by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority.
As an Approved Supplier, you are entitled to use logos and promotional material developed in association with the programme for your own marketing purposes. This enables you to reassure your customers, and consumers, that your produce is healthy and safe to eat, and is grown in New Zealand.
The programme has also helped exporters reassure overseas retailers that they are committed to good agricultural practice. That's because New Zealand GAP is increasingly being accepted by overseas markets. And while an overseas retailer might be initially unfamiliar with New Zealand GAP, they know from the programme's name that its focus is good agricultural practice.
Many growers find the programme is a useful management tool as it brings together processes, policies and regulatory requirements, improves business practices and ultimately saves time and money.
In addition, New Zealand GAP has been structured so growers have only one set of auditors coming through their gate.
