The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is to launch a new initiative to help grower members through their Assured Produce (AP) scheme audit following months of pressure over the scheme.
The union announced this week it is to offer up a free NFU Audit Pack to provide members with a series of templates, policies and supporting documents to save time and money while completing the process.
The Assured Produce audit has come under heavy criticism from growers who complain it is too complicated and asks a number questions which are not applicable.
Assured Produce registration enables growers to be licensed to use the Red Tractor logo on their produce, potentially opening up new markets and business opportunities.
AP is a subsidiary of Assured Food Standards, which operates the Red Tractor logo and is jointly owned by several food and farming bodies, including the NFU.
A new version of the AP audit came out in April following a line-by-line critique of the current system, which will last until 2011 when it no longer has to be tied to GlobalGAP, by the British Independent Fruit Growers’ Association (BIFGA).
Walter Simon, who grows 50 hectares of potatoes in Pembrokeshire, said the audit pack would be a “fantastic resource for my business” allowing him to update many of his policies and statements easily and tailor them to my specific needs.
As well as a physical copy of the audit pack, all documents will be available online and can be completed electronically.
The NFU estimates the cost of employing a consultant to carry out equivalent work would be in excess of £400.
BIFGA chairman John Breach, who is involved in the Rolling Back Farm Assurance Schemes campaign, previously told freshinfo: “Many growers have said that these schemes have now gone way, way beyond what was first envisaged, and that they would like to quit but are scared that if they do, they will be unable to sell through major retailers.”
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