Audit Process
At the heart of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) is the mandatory government audit system that certifies members are implementing food safety practices developed by university and industry scientists, food safety experts and farmers, shippers and processors.
LGMA audits are designed to determine whether or not a member of the LGMA is in compliance with the food safety practices accepted by the LGMA board. The goal of the program is to protect public health by minimizing risk of introducing food borne pathogens into the fields and farms producing leafy greens. LGMA members are audited on regular and random basis. The LGMA's objective is 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.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) employs specially certified inspectors to conduct LGMA audits. These inspectors operate with oversight from CDFA, but are certified and trained by the United States Department of Agriculture under the auspices of the National Good Agricultural Practice program practices which incorporate the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Commodity Specific Guidance. LGMA inspectors also receive special training regarding the LGMA enhanced food safety practices. Members of the LGMA have agreed to tax themselves to collectively pay for the expense of government audits.
Each audit is done using a comprehensive, detailed audit checklist, a 23-page inspection guideline that ties closely to the enhanced food safety practices accepted by the LGMA board. The audit covers five main areas:
- General Requirements
- Environmental Assessments
- Water Use
- Soil Amendments
- Worker Practices and Field Observations
If an LGMA member is found to be out of compliance in any of these areas, they are issued an infraction. Each infraction is recorded at one of four levels, ranging from a Minor Infraction to a Flagrant Violation. The LGMA Compliance Audit Process provides opportunities for members to take corrective action on infractions that would not result in unsafe product entering the market. Flagrant Violations, which may lead to unsafe product entering the market, result in decertification from the program and discontinued use of the Service Mark for a designated time period. Produce buyers enforce the mark by only buying from Signatory Members of the LGMA; for example Canada and Mexico require that all leafy green products imported from the State of California bear the Service Mark of the LGMA.