FOOD SAFETY
"The Fresh Standard" for food safety is a list of requirements and guidelines based upon scientific research and previous good agricultural practices, which were first established in 1999. For many years, the California tomato industry conducted a wide range of food safety research through the University of California into the growing, harvesting, packing and transportation of fresh tomatoes. As this research yielded new information, the industry revised the Good Agricultural Practices accordingly.
All members of the CTF are subjected to mandatory and regular food safety audits conducted by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspectors to confirm compliance with "The Fresh Standard" for food safety. In 2010, CTF members must also pass unannounced audits by the government to ensure compliance with the food safety standards. Failure to comply with "The Fresh Standard" for food safety will result in the expulsion from the cooperative.
"The Fresh Standard" for Food Safety Focuses on Five Primary Areas:
Water Quality
• Regular testing of all irrigation water sources
• Water quality for irrigation must meet the standards defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Continuous monitoring of environmental factors
Soil Amendments
• All fertilizers must list supplier and identify the product's origin
• Processed manure must be properly composted and certified for use on food crops
• No biosolids or raw manure
Environmental Conditions and Risks
• Members must monitor land use adjacent to their operations
• Physical barriers must be built when livestock are raised adjacent to tomato operations
• Members must communicate with neighboring growers when pesticides are used
Worker Health and Hygiene
• Workers showing signs of illness must be reassigned to paid activities that do not involve contact with food
• Contracted, third party companies must adhere to the same high employment practices as our members
Harvesting, Packing, and Shipping
• All harvest containers, bins, and other items that come into contact with tomatoes must be cleaned and sanitized
• All wash water that contacts tomatoes must be of drinking water quality as defined by the EPA
California Tomato Farmers has taken a leadership role in the development of risk-based food safety standards that can apply to both large and small growers in North America. In 2008, Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain was released. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released its proposed food safety guidance drawing heavily from the 2008 document. California Tomato Farmers is a strong supporter of FDA's guidance becoming mandatory — for all growers, both domestic and imported.
California Tomato Farmers continued its leadership role in 2009, with the development of "Food Safety Programs and Auditing Protocol for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain." This is the first food safety matrix and auditing protocol designed for the supply chain, from field to end-user. The program is designed to allow growers to undergo a common audit, based upon vetted auditor standards.
(Click on an image to view/download the document)
California Tomato Farmers has been actively involved in improving traceback abilities and issues during food-borne illness outbreaks. In 2009, in conjunction with Harvard University and federal and state health officials, CTF examined its standards and changed the face of food safety and accountability with a new visual traceback method.
Led by Harvard, the project highlighted the importance of collaboration among industry leaders and government investigators. When government officials, tomato industry members and information technologists gathered to discuss what to do with collected data, they decided to have the information linked to Spotfire, a visualization software tool. Together, they discovered that by using this visualization method, investigators would have answers to any traceback conducted within a matter of a few computer clicks.
The project revealed that when using this visualization tool, the source of a contamination can quickly be located and promptly traced forward to other points of infection. This method will reduce the amount of time it typically takes to find answers — saving months of time and speculation, protecting jobs and keeping people healthy.
The California Tomato Farmers are pleased to provide industry perspective, information as well as access to the tomato industry to the Harvard group for use in developing this pilot project and traceback computer model. It is the goal of the California Tomato Farmers to continue to work cooperatively with federal and state health officials to improve food safety systems via better traceback mechanisms. It is the hope of the cooperative that this pilot program is successful. However, no matter the outcome, the cooperative remains committed to keep trying.
To read the complete article by Zachary Tumin of the Harvard Kennedy School, visit http://bfc.ashinstitute.harvard.edu/columns/?id=28.
HOW WE AUDIT
Members of California Tomato Farmers are contractually required to meet the requirements of the Food Safety Programs and Auditing Protocol for the Fresh Tomato Supply chain. These requirements were developed by United Fresh Produce Association, the tomato industry and our customers, while vetted by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Food and Agriculture. To verify that our members are producing at these high standards, members are subject to mandatory audits under the direction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Member are subject to one announced audit every 90 days of operation, and one unannounced audit each season.
This level of auditing is significantly higher than is commonly found in the fresh tomato industry. Unlike many third party audits by non-governmental entities, members of California Tomato Farmers are required to be in full compliance with food safety standards. Some third party audits consider seventy percent a passing grade. California Tomato Farmers, on the other hand, believes that food safety deserves more than just a passing grade. Full compliance from pre-plant to post-harvest is enforced — and nothing less.
(Learn more about USDA's stringent auditing)The Initial Inspection
• The initial audit covers the field, harvest and packing of tomatoes.
• A typical field and harvest crew audit takes 6 or more hours to conduct. It includes a review of documentation, a visual inspection of practices and a follow-up audit of product traceability.
• All practices are documented, from transplanting to final packaging -- including the ability of a member to trace-forward and trace-back tomatoes they've produced.
• Auditors review water-quality testing documentation, employee sanitation practices and look for signs of animal intrusion.
• Corrections are verified in follow-up audits. Full compliance is required to pass the audit.
Unannounced Audits
Unique to California Tomato Farmers is the mandated unannounced audit. Just as it suggests, auditors arrive without warning and the member must provide access to fields as requested. Unannounced audits of the packinghouse take place throughout the season. They include the following inspections, among others:
• The auditor meets with the grower to review pre-harvest assessments, soil amendment usage and other important aspects of the production process.
• A detailed visual inspection ensures that the requirements of the cooperative are being met.
All costs associated with the government-conducted audits of our members' fields and their packinghouses are paid for by our grower members. There's no taxpayer subsidy of these audits. And, unlike many audit firms, USDA doesn't offer "consulting services" or other add-ons.
Copies of the CTF Good Agricultural Practices and USDA audit checklists used to verifiy compliance are available upon request.
In a survey of supermarket decision-makers by the Perishables Group, retailers indicated that their customers prefer tomatoes grown in the United States.
