The Audits Benchmarking Matrix was initiated in an effort to reduce the audit burden on the suppliers and buyers of fresh produce. Supplier companies reported having to experience, and pay for, multiple redundant audits because buyers would not accept audits performed by the same company. Buyers reported confusion in accepting and interpreting audits from different companies, not knowing whose programs, auditors and audit reports or certifications to "trust". In April 2009, a Global Conference on Produce Food Safety Standards was convened by United Fresh to enable over a dozen audit organizations and food safety standard owners to describe their internal quality assurance programs. The global conference featured organizations that are responsible for establishing standards or assessing food safety programs of produce operations before and after the "farm gate". Each company was asked to present their programs in terms of responses to specific questions pertinent to the industry, such as auditor competency, auditor training, and length and cost structure of audits.

This Audits Benchmarking Matrix is a direct output of the Global Conference. The audit and standards setting organizations were asked to provide written responses to those same questions. These questions are listed in the Matrix as Program Elements. The answers are listed as provided by each participant.

United Fresh thanks the following members of the United Fresh Food Safety & Technology Council for their efforts in developing the Audits Benchmarking Matrix: Megan Arnold, C.H. Robinson; Roger Becker, Gold Coast Packing Company; Beth Bland, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association; Chris Dzuik, H-E-B; Zizi Gibbs, Mann Packing Company; Valerie Hannig, The Oppenheimer Group; Heather Hawke, Silliker, Inc.; Verlea Kellogg, Chiquita/Fresh Express; David Mueller, Fresh From Texas/Energy Sprouts, Inc.; Gail Murray, Disney Consumer Products; Heena Patel, Scientific Certification Systems; Rena Pierami, Silliker, Inc.; Joshua Porbeni, Club Chef, LLC; Gale Prince, Your Food Safety Coach; Keith Refsnider, Driscoll's; Joan Rosen, Chiquita/Fresh Express; Wil Sumner, Scientific Certification Systems; Steve Tripp, Pacific International Marketing; Kari Valdes, River Ranch Fresh Foods, LLC; Tony Valenzuela, Naturipe Berry Growers, Inc.
 
United Fresh particularly thanks Gail Murray, Disney Consumer Products, for leadership of this project and for conversion of the matrix into a web accessible and searchable tool.

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