IPI Logo - Building Brighter Futures

OPERATIONAL UPDATES: All IPI Shops are operating as normal. Please read for updates on IPI's operations (last updated 05/04/2023).

IPI's products and services may be purchased only by governmental agencies, school districts, non-profit groups and employees of these organizations. 


Welcome, Sign In

P: 800-332-7922 | E-mail IPI
Blog Link Twitter Link FaceBook Link LinkedIn Link YouTube Link Instagram Link

IPI Farms receives USDA Certification for Good Agricultural Practices & Good Handling Practices

08/27/2015

IPI Farms is pleased to announce that it has successfully met USDA’s acceptance criteria and passed an audit for the USDA Good Agricultural Practices & Good Handling Practices certification.

IPI is one of just 10 producers in the state of Iowa reaching this level of quality and food safety. 

The program covers IPI production of twelve different fruits and vegetables grown at ISP Farm 3 in Montrose, Iowa. 

The American food supply is among the safest in the world, but the FDA estimates that there still are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness annually—the equivalent of sickening 1 in 6 Americans each year. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) are intended to minimize the risk of contamination of fresh fruits and vegetables caused by microbial pathogens. 

Jim Johnson, Nursery Worker II and Laurie Wardlow, Nursery Worker I, implemented and oversee the food safety program for IPI. “We had to develop a complete Food Safety program for the farm, and then train all of the staff and incarcerated individuals”, said Laurie. 

IPI’s Food Safety program covers areas such as Traceability, Water Quality, Worker Hygiene, Pest Control, Pesticide Application, and Sanitation. 

Under the leadership of Mike Lynch, the IPI Farm team began working on GAP and GHP in 2014. In addition to several internal audits, the team conducted a Mock Recall with one of the DOC institutions. 

Along with the JBU associates working at Farm 3, the following IPI Farm employees were instrumental in developing the IPI Food Safety Plan and passing the USDA audit:

  • Mike Lynch, Farm Supervisor
  • Jeff Buford, Farm Manager (retired)
  • Julie Schaefer, Accountant/Auditor I
  • Laurie Wardlow, Nursery Worker I
  • Jim Johnson, Nursery Worker II

Congratulations to the IPI Farm team!