PrimusGFS Consultant for Growers, Packers, and Processors
Our PrimusGFS consultants and former auditors build the food safety management system and the GAP, GMP, and HACCP modules your operation needs, then get you through your PrimusGFS audit.
- Built to PrimusGFS Version 3.2 and your operation type
- The right modules for a farm, harvest crew, packinghouse, or processor
- Guidance from a team that has run more than 500 audits
A 30-minute call with a PrimusGFS expert. No cost and no obligation.
What is PrimusGFS?
PrimusGFS is a food safety certification scheme built for the fresh produce supply chain. It is administered by Azzule Systems and recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), and it is the scheme most growers, harvesters, coolers, packers, and produce processors in the Americas are asked to hold.
What makes it different from a manufacturing scheme is that a single PrimusGFS audit can cover a whole produce operation. It combines a food safety management system with Good Agricultural Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices, and HACCP, and you certify to the modules that match what you actually do. The current standard is Version 3.2.
Grow produce covered by FSMA?A PrimusGFS program lines up closely with the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. See our FSMA compliance page for that side, and we build both together.
Meet the lead of our PrimusGFS team
"I have audited more than 500 operations. Produce fails on water, hygiene, and traceability, so those are where I focus your program first."
Dave Seddon, MBA, RDN, LDN, CFSO
Co-founder of FoodReady and a finalist for SQF Auditor of the Year named by the SQF Institute.
- 500+ audits
- Produce and GAP expertise
- Field to facility experience
PrimusGFS follows produce from the field to the truck
Few schemes cover the produce supply chain end to end. PrimusGFS does, which is why buyers use it to hold every link to one standard.
Grow
Farm and greenhouse
Harvest
Harvest crews
Cool
Cooling and cold storage
Pack
Packinghouse
Process
Fresh-cut and processing
Ship
Storage and distribution
One scheme across every link
We scope your audit to the stages your business actually runs
Which PrimusGFS modules does your operation need?
Module 1, the food safety management system, is required for everyone. The rest depend on what you do. We confirm your exact scope on the first call.
| YOUR OPERATION | REQUIRED MODULES | MAY ALSO NEED |
|---|---|---|
| Farm, open field | 1 FSMS & 2 Farm GAP | - |
| Greenhouse and indoor agriculture | 1 FSMS & 3 Indoor GAP | - |
| Harvest crew | 1 FSMS & 4 Harvest GAP | - |
| Cooling and cold storage | 1 FSMS & 5 GMP | 6 HACCP |
| Packinghouse | 1 FSMS & 5 GMP | 6 HACCP & 7 PC |
| Processing and fresh-cut | 1 FSMS, 5 GMP & 6 HACCP | 7 PC |
| Storage and distribution | 1 FSMS & 5 GMP | 6 HACCP |
PC is Module 7, Preventive Controls, the option aligned with FSMA. Many operations combine several of these under one certificate.
The seven PrimusGFS modules we build
Each module is a set of requirements for one part of the produce chain. We write and implement the ones your scope includes.
Food safety management system
Policies, procedures, internal audits, traceability, and recall. Required for every operation.
Farm GAP
Good Agricultural Practices for open-field growing, including water, soil, and worker hygiene.
Indoor agriculture GAP
GAP tuned to greenhouse and indoor growing environments.
Harvest crew GAP
Controls for harvest crews, field sanitation, and harvest equipment.
Good Manufacturing Practices
GMP for packinghouses, cooling, storage, and processing facilities.
HACCP
A hazard analysis and critical control point plan for operations that need one.
Preventive Controls
The preventive controls option that aligns your program with FSMA.
PrimusGFS scoring, and what it takes to certify
PrimusGFS is scored as a percentage. You have to clear two thresholds at once, and certain findings fail the audit on their own. We build your program to clear all three.
- Across the whole audit, all modules combined.
- Every module has to clear its own threshold, not just the average.
- Certain findings deny certification no matter how high your overall score is. These are the ones we prioritize.
The produce requirements we get right
These are the areas an auditor probes hardest in a produce operation. We build each into your program.
Water is the leading contamination route in produce. We build your water source assessment, testing, and treatment controls for both preharvest and postharvest water, aligned with the standard and with FSMA.
Field and facility hygiene, handwashing, illness reporting, and toilet and break facilities. We build the program and the training records that show it runs across every crew and shift.
Produce moves fast and mixes easily, so one-up one-down traceability and a tested recall plan are essential. We build both and run a mock recall so your records hold up under audit.
Prior land use, animal intrusion, and neighboring operations all affect risk. We build the assessments and monitoring the standard expects for the growing environment.
Cooling, washing, packing, and storage each introduce their own hazards. We build the sanitation program, environmental monitoring, and postharvest controls for your facility.
PrimusGFS, GLOBALG.A.P, or SQF?
All three are GFSI-recognized, so buyers accept any of them. For produce in the Americas, the choice usually comes down to where your customers are. We consult on all three. For a produce operation selling into North American retail, PrimusGFS is usually the most direct route.
| null | PRIMUSGFS | GLOBALG.A.P | SQF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | Fresh produce chain | Primary production | Manufacturing and produce |
| Strong in | Americas | Europe | North America |
| Covers whole chain | Yes, field to distribution | Farm focused | Facility focused |
| Modular by operation | Yes | Add-on scopes | SQF Fundamentals, Food Safety and Quality Codes |
| Result | Percentage score | Compliant or not | Graded E, C, G, F |
- 500+
- Facilities audited by our lead consultant Dave Seddon
- 7
- Modules across the produce supply chain
- 90%
- Minimum passing score required to earn certification
- 30
- Minutes free consultation to get started
Support built around your operation
Certify a farm, a facility, or a whole produce supply chain. Every engagement begins with a free consultation.
Farm and GAP Certification
For open-field, greenhouse, and harvest operations.
- Growers
- Food safety management system
- Farm, indoor, or harvest GAP module
- Water and worker hygiene programs
- Audit preparation
Packing and Processing
For packinghouses, cooling, storage, and fresh-cut processors.
- Facilities
- FSMS and GMP module
- HACCP or Preventive Controls
- Sanitation and environmental monitoring
- Mock audit and audit support
Whole Supply Chain
For businesses that grow, pack, and ship under one certificate.
- Multi-operation
- Scoping across every operation
- All required modules built together
- Shared traceability and recall
- Ongoing surveillance support
Run your PrimusGFS records from the field and the floor
Consulting delivers the program. The FoodReady app helps your crews run it: water and hygiene logs, harvest records, traceability, and sanitation checks captured on mobile, even where connectivity is thin. It is optional and included with enterprise and manufacturing subscriptions.
- Field and facility logs -Water, hygiene, and sanitation on mobile.
- Traceability -One-up one-down records ready for a recall.
- Harvest records -Crew and lot data captured at the source.
- Audit evidence -Records found in seconds at audit time.
Dashboard
Why Teams Choose FoodReady for PrimusGFS Certified Consultation
Engage with a faster, software‑supported consulting process. Backed by seasoned auditors and modern tools, FoodReady gets your PrimusGFS program "ready to stay ready" for customer and regulatory audits.
- Practical programs that match how you actually operate
- Faster time to certification with software‑accelerated workflows
- Lower risk of non‑conformances and costly re‑audits
- Clear templates, logs, and training built for fresh produce and post‑harvest ops
- Flexible engagement models (project‑based or ongoing compliance)
"Task Manager is phenomenal. I love being able to establish reoccurring tasks, monitor progress, and assign the checklists that need to be completed for each task. This keeps my team accountable and gives me ease of monitoring."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PrimusGFS?
PrimusGFS is a GFSI-recognized food safety certification for the fresh produce supply chain, administered by Azzule Systems. A single audit can cover growing, harvesting, cooling, packing, and processing, using a set of modules that combine a food safety management system with Good Agricultural Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices, and HACCP.
Who needs PrimusGFS Consulting?
Fresh produce growers, harvest crews, packers/coolers, fresh‑cut processors, and distributors whose retail or foodservice customers require a GFSI‑benchmarked audit.
How FoodReady can help get you PrimusGFS Certified?
Gap Analysis: Identifies missing or weak areas in your current food safety program.Template Library: Provides ready-to-use PrimusGFS-compliant forms, SOPs, and logs.Automated Documentation: Keeps all required records organized and audit-ready.Task Management: Tracks corrective actions, audits, and verification tasks.Expert Support: Access to food safety consultants familiar with PrimusGFS standards.Real-Time Monitoring: Digitizes inspections and corrective actions for continuous compliance.Audit Preparation: Generates reports and documentation required for PrimusGFS audits
Which modules apply to me?
We help you select only the modules relevant to your operations (e.g., farm vs. harvest vs. packhouse vs. processing) to keep scope accurate and costs controlled.
Can you integrate HACCP/PC with PrimusGFS?
Yes. We build an integrated program aligning HACCP/Preventive Controls with PrimusGFS sections to avoid duplication and simplify training.
Do you support multiple sites and seasons?
Yes—multi‑site, seasonal, and crop‑specific documentation and records are supported.
What does PrimusGFS v4.0 change?
Version 4.0 introduces updated Food Safety Management System requirements, new environmental monitoring expectations, and enhanced supplier management clauses. We’ll help you transition smoothly when it’s time.
Do you help with auditor selection?
Yes, we can recommend accredited certification bodies familiar with your commodity type and region to ensure a fair and efficient audit.
Can FoodReady assist after certification?
Absolutely. We offer ongoing compliance monitoring, internal audit scheduling, and annual review packages.
Is PrimusGFS accepted by major buyers?
Yes—PrimusGFS is GFSI‑recognized and accepted by major produce buyers, distributors, and retailers across North America.
Can you combine PrimusGFS with FSMA Produce Safety Rule compliance?
Yes. Our programs align PrimusGFS with FSMA Produce Safety Rule (21 CFR Part 112) to ensure unified documentation and inspection readiness.
How is PrimusGFS different from GLOBALG.A.P or SQF?
All three are GFSI-recognized. PrimusGFS is built specifically for the produce chain and is dominant in the Americas, GLOBALG.A.P is farm-focused and common in Europe, and SQF is used across manufacturing and produce, mainly in North America. For a produce business selling into North American retail, PrimusGFS is usually the most direct route.
Do you offer on‑site or remote consulting?
Both. We provide hybrid options for field, packhouse, and processing facilities depending on location and audit scope.
How long does it take to get PrimusGFS certified and what does it cost?
Most operations are audit-ready in weeks to a few months, depending on how many modules apply and what already exists. Certification body audit fees are separate from consulting fees, and we explain both. After a free consultation we provide a clear, fixed-scope quote for your operation.
Get PrimusGFS certified with confidence
Book a free consultation. We will confirm your operation, scope your modules, and tell you exactly what your path to certification looks like.