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Delaware Department of
Agriculture

Grading and Audits



Grading


Through cooperative agreements with the United States Department of Agriculture, the Food Products Inspection Program provides grading services to:

  • poultry plants,
  • shell egg plants,
  • fruit and vegetable growers, and brokers.

The section enforces the requirements of the Delaware Egg Law to ensure consumers are purchasing accurately labeled, fresh, high quality and wholesome eggs.

Audits


The Food Products Inspection staff provides Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) and Harmonized Food Safety Audits. These programs provide producers and suppliers of agricultural products the opportunity to assure customers of their ability to provide consistent quality products or services.

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS) verifies the programs by reviewing documents and performing independent third-party audits. USDA-AMS audit and accreditation programs are voluntary and services are provided by hourly user-fees. USDA-AMS provides audit and accreditation programs based on widely-accepted audit principles, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standards, and/or Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Principles and Guidelines.

For 2019 and 2020, USDA has agreed to defray 100% of the costs associated with Harmonized GAP and Harmonized GAP Audits; in Delaware.  If USDA has covered 100% of the applicants successful audit, the applicant is still eligible for water testing reimbursement through the below cost-share program.

 

For more information on grading services or to request an audit, contact Food Products Field Supervisor Brenda Clements at 302-698-4546 or email Brenda.Clements@delaware.gov.

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