PORTLAND, OR - GLOBALG.A.P. is seeing impressive achievements as its global certification program gains more recognition from the fresh produce industry. The company’s rigorous standards have become widely adopted by hop producers across the United States. With over 40,000 acres of hop production in the country already GLOBALG.A.P.-certified, GLOBALG.A.P. is responsible for certifying two-thirds of the 60,872 acres in hop production in the U.S.
“Our hop certification program has been widely accepted as a marker of excellence for producers in the U.S.,” said Roberta Anderson, Executive Vice President of GLOBALG.A.P. North America. “Hop Growers of America has been an incredible partner and has served the hop industry well by collaborating and supporting hop growers to adopt responsible practices and access this important certification program. This successful partnership proves there’s more value for all when we come together to make the industry better with meaningful standards people can trust.”
According to a press release, GLOBALG.A.P.’s Integrated Farm Assurance for Hops delivers a standard to specifically address the unique farm-level needs of hop growers, through collaboration with Hop Growers of America, farmers, and brewer customers around the world. When paired with Integrated Farm Assurance for Plant Propagation Material (PPM), the two ensure responsible production from start through harvest.
The IFA Standard for PPM addresses site and soil management, substrates, propagation, propagation facilities, and trading terms and conditions, while the IFA Standard for Hops covers propagation material, soil management, preharvest evaluation, and harvest and postharvest activities tailored to hop production.
Yakima Chief Ranches (YCR), recently utilized Integrated Farm Assurance for Plant Propagation Material, making it the first hop breeder to be PPM-certified.
“Receiving certification to the Integrated Farm Assurance for Plant Propagation Material from GLOBALG.A.P. is incredibly good news for our organization and the hop industry,” said Jason Perrault, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Hop Breeder at YCR. “Being certified at such a high level proves that we’re doing things right by our team, our product, our customers, and the soil that supplies us with our product. We are all so proud to be held in such high regard with other businesses of high integrity.”
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