USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service, Fruit and Vegetable Program, Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division Audit Programs provides oversight for commodity specific audits performed to satisfy the requirements of the California and Arizona Leafy Green Marketing Agreements, the California Tomato Growers Cooperative, and the mushroom industry.

These voluntary, independent audits of produce suppliers are performed throughout the production and supply chain.

The goal of the Arizona Leafy Green Products Shipper Marketing Agreement (AZ LGMA) is to ensure that Arizona’s leafy greens meet mandatory food safety standards upheld with audits conducted by government-certified inspectors.

The California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement (LGMA) was formed to protect public health by reducing potential sources of contamination in California-grown leafy greens. LGMA membership requires verification of compliance with the accepted food safety practices through mandatory government audits.

Commodity specific guidance for this audit program was provided by the American Mushroom Institute and Penn State University contained in the “Industry?Wide Food Safety Standards for Fresh Mushroom Growing, Harvesting, and Shipping.”

The tomato industry initiated the Food Safety Programs and Auditing Protocol for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain in October 2008, with the goal of harmonizing food safety audit standards for the fresh tomato supply chain.