Cooperation and compliance may decrease the call for regulations, but there is no way to tell. The best way to be prepared for any regulations and to take advantage of the business opportunity that is now before you is to get your farm to the standards outlined by the GAPs and to keep good written records. A. Testing, with written documentation of results, should be done at least annually. In addition, any holes in the plastic that are meant to allow for respiration could also be entry-ways for contaminants. A. No, only chemicals that are on the USDA and FDA approved list of chemicals for food plants and farms is allowed.
Many factors determine the fate of a business.
It is best to look at this as an opportunity to set your company and its products apart from others. Small operations have the ability to have greater oversight over their operations and the agility to make changes rapidly. The bottom line, however, is that it is your choice whether or not you will sell to a buyer that requires certification. If you do chose to sell to them, then upgrades and audits are just another cost of doing business. While these are all Mainland companies, some have representatives in Hawaii.