HIDOE to implement nationally accepted USDA food safety standards for produce suppliers

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) on Friday announced new standards for produce suppliers to ensure students receive consistently high-quality and safe meals.

Starting in the 2025-26 school year, all farms that supply produce to HIDOE will need to be certified by the USDA’s Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices Plus+ standards or the USDA GroupGAP Food Safety Program.

“This GAP certification that takes effect next year ensures that we have high-quality produce that’s healthy and great tasting for our students,” said superintendent Keith Hayashi. “We’re very fortunate that we have a partnership with the Farm Bureau and the Department of Agriculture that provides the support to local farmers in attaining that GAP certification. All of us working together ensures that we’re able to provide for our students healthy, nutritious, great tasting meals that students will enjoy.”

In addition to bolstering produce quality and safety, HIDOE stated the adoption of these standards will simplify the department’s food-safety protocols, making the process for procurement and handling more efficient and secure.

The department will be collaborating closely with its suppliers as they go through the GAP-certified audit process. Food safety certification will be defined as “the completion of a GAP audit by a USDA qualified inspector, with a favorable report and score.” Vendors will need to schedule audits annually to maintain eligibility.