For more than 10 years, ResponsibleAg has been an industry-led program where retailers receive compliance audits to stay on track with their regulated safety standards.
Industry ambassador Tim McArdle and ARA CEO Daren Coppock share case studies in how ResponsibleAg is an asset for ag retailers in their everyday business across 2,356 locations.
“ResponsibleAg is a great resource for retailers with facilities that are in
distribution to determine whether they’re in compliance with Federal regulations or not,” Coppock says. “When these ResponsibleAg audits are complete, the manager of the facility gets a complete list of the areas where you’re in compliance, and these are the areas where you’re not. And here’s the citation to the regulation that explains what
the issue is.”
Coppock says the real advantage of the audit is you are aware of compliance without a ticket, and in that way it’s like a regular maintenance program for ag retail—like pulling the dipstick on your oil.
McArdle adds how ag retail and distribution is a highly regulated business including DOT, OSHA, DHS, and other entities.
As for what retailers should participate in ResponsibleAg, McArdle says it is a great fit for any retailer.
“You can make it a part of your existing program–run alongside your existing program. There’s ways now that it can be totally integrated into your program,” he says. “We can work with you where you are and make this program work for you.”
He shares the example of ResponsibleAg member Simplot saying the value came from having an extra set of eyes.
You can hear more examples in this episode of The Scoop podcast:
