Freshcare is the fresh produce industry’s own on-farm assurance program, established and maintained to service the needs of Australian growers.
Now in its thirteenth year, Freshcare’s practical approach to helping growers and packers assure customers that their produce is safe to eat has seen over 5500 fresh produce businesses adopt the program.
Freshcare is already Australia’s largest on–farm assurance program and some exciting new Freshcare developments in 2013, including international benchmarking to the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), will ensure it continues to grow.
Freshcare members implement the HACCP based Food Safety and Quality Code, now in its third edition, in order to meet the requirements of their customers and maximise the market options for their fresh produce.
Freshcare is widely accepted as a practical, industry focussed, food safety program.
Approved standard for supply to supermarkets
Freshcare is an approved standard for direct supply to both Coles and IGA, and is an approved standard for indirect supply to Woolworths (via a Woolworths Quality Assurance (WQA) Certified business) and to ALDI (via businesses with a standard benchmarked to the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)).
More than food safety
Freshcare is not just about food safety. The Freshcare Environmental, Environmental Viticulture and Environmental Winery Codes are also being widely adopted, providing an independent assurance of on-farm environmental practices and sustainable production.
Getting involved
For growers new to Freshcare, the process is designed to be as easy as possible, but at the same time ensuring all Freshcare members have a strong understanding and ownership of the system they implement on farm.
Training
Complete an approved Freshcare training workshop (one day) which provides a clear understanding of food safety issues on-farm and establishes the requirements for program implementation and management.
Freshcare Trainers are responsible for guiding growers through a streamlined process from initial registration to full certification.
Implementation
Having completed training, the next task is to implement the Freshcare system on farm. Ensure farm infrastructure is compliant and appropriate records are kept.
Audit
Once the program is implemented on farm, contact any of the six approved Freshcare Certification Bodies to schedule an audit. To become Freshcare certified you must first successfully complete and pass an audit.
Certification
Once you have successfully completed an audit, Freshcare will issue you with your Freshcare Certificate.
A copy of your Freshcare Certificate will be sent via post and a copy is also available on your individual FreshcareOnline account. Freshcare Certificates are valid for 13 months. Audits are due 12 months from previous date of audit.
Have you renewed your Freshcare Certification?
If you have previously achieved Freshcare Certification, remember to renew your Freshcare Certification by completing an annual audit.
If you have not heard from your auditor to schedule an audit, please contact your Certification Body. Please contact the Freshcare Office if you are unsure which Certification Body you use.
Freshcare members affected by weather events
Freshcare members in many regions have been affected by the recent extreme weather.
Where crops have been lost/production areas destroyed, members are encouraged to notify Freshcare to be placed in the ‘membership suspended’ category until they have a commercial crop and require certification again.
Freshcare members who have lost their manuals as a result of adverse circumstances, should contact Freshcare for a replacement manual at no charge.
For information and contact details, see Tree Fruit March 2013
