GAP Certification Assistance Program

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services developed the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Certification Assistance Program to help North Carolina growers with financial support in obtaining a third party audit to verify they are following effective food safety practices. The audit-based verification reviews participants' adherence to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP); growers/packers who participate and pass the audit receive certification that they meet GAP standards.

North Carolina fruit and vegetable growers/packers seeking GAP certification.

No current cost-share amount is published. NCDA&CS's live Grading Services page says only that the program "will help North Carolina growers with financial support in obtaining a third party audit to verify they are following effective food safety practices" — no dollar cap and no percentage. About the underlying audit it says: "The audit program is a fee-based service. Participants are charged a fee based on the time required to conduct the audit and travel expenses of the auditor." So the fee you owe depends on auditor hours and travel, and is not posted as a rate card.

The most recent published schedule is dated 2016 — treat these numbers as unconfirmed for the current year. From the program's own NCDA&CS application form: "The NCDA&CS will pay up to $900 of the cost of having a third party audit to verify a farm's food safety program for first time users; $300 for those who have previously participated in the program." "Funds will be paid to the auditor conducting the GAP/GHP audit to reduce the cost to the farmer by up to $900/$300. Participating farmers will be responsible for paying the auditor for any balance due above $900/$300. Funds are available on a first come first served basis until the funds are depleted." That form closes with "Payments are limited up to $900 per farm or company for audits conducted in 2016," which is why the figures cannot be presented as current.

Lifetime limit and sequencing (same 2016 form). "If you have received 3 or more GAP audits using this certification assistance program you are no longer eligible to receive assistance," and "Applications must be submitted for approval to participate in this program to the NCDA&CS prior to receiving the GAP/GHP audit" — apply before the audit, not after.

Call for current figures: NCDA&CS Cooperative Grading Service, P.O. Box 588, Williamston, NC 27892, (252) 792-1672; Brooke Stephenson, Agricultural Program Manager, Brooke.Stephenson@ncagr.gov.

A separate program on the same page, not this one: the Water Analysis Cost Share Program, under which "The NCDA&CS will reimburse growers up to $1,000.00 for laboratory analysis to determine the quantitative presence of generic E. coli bacteria in irrigation or wash water by a certified laboratory," first-come first-served, with 2026 invoices due June 1, 2026.

Verified 2026-09-04.

Submit a GAP-Audit Request (with a Substitute W-9) through the NCDA&CS Cooperative Grading Service. The audit is a fee-based service; this program provides financial support toward the cost of the third-party audit.