The USDA audit checklist (pdf) has a general questions section that applies to all audit types. The remainder of the checklist is broken into sections. In addition to the general questions, the audit can include any or all of the following applicable areas:
General questions (pdf);
Farm Review (pdf);
Field Harvest and Field Packing Activities (pdf);
House Packing Facility (pdf);
Storage and Transportation (pdf);
Traceback (pdf);
Wholesale Distribution Center/Terminal Warehouses (pdf); and
Wholesale Distribution Center/Terminal Warehouses Traceback (pdf).
Preventative Food Defense Procedures (pdf) has been added at buyers request.

The USDA audits are scored at the end of the audit and a copy is provided for the auditee. The audits achieving passing scores are listed on the USDA website by commodity and company audited. Only the company name and address, sections covered by the audit, and the audit date are shown. Scores are not posted.

USDA requires an agreement for participation(pdf) be filled out before an audit can be performed. You can download the form at the above link. The first page is informational, the actual audit agreement is numbered pages 1-3. Fill in the information at the top of page 1 and the top of page 3, then return the signed agreement to the Boise office by mail, fax, or email.

     Mail; Idaho State Dept. of Agriculture, Food Safety Program, PO Box 790,               Boise, ID 83701-0790;

     Fax; Cindy Stark at 208-334-2170; or

     Email; Cindy Stark (cstark@agri.idaho.gov).

PrimusLabs.com has different audit forms for each audit category. Self audits and guidelines for these audits are available for download or viewing for each of the following audit categories:
Harvest Crew;
Ranch;
GreenHouse;
Storage and Distribution Center;
Cooling/Cold Storage;
Processing;
Processing with HACCP;
Packing House with HACCP; and
Packing House.

Once the Primus audit tour and question session is completed, the auditor will access the internet to answer the audit questions on PrimusLabs' secured intranet. When the auditor has completed all the questions, he or she will submit the audit. This sends immediate e-mail results to everyone the auditee has stated should receive a copy, including the auditor. It is sent as a pdf document. Each question and auditor response is shown, and recommendations are also included for any question that did not receive total compliance. If the auditee decides later that a copy should have been sent to someone else, the auditor can still send the results. Hard copies can also be provided upon request.

Both auditing programs audit the produce industry's adherence to FDA's Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. Also helpful for the farm, ranch, and harvest crew audits is Cornell University's Food Safety Begins on the Farm.

View our fee schedule for PrimusLabs.com affiliated audits (pdf).

View our fee schedule for USDA GAP / GHP audits (pdf).

For more information on our auditing program or to schedule an audit, please contact Cindy Stark by email or phone (208) 332-8672.