Freshcare is the foundation that underpins food safety compliance for most Australian fresh produce businesses. Freshcare provides the knowledge, support and verification mechanisms to assist participating businesses deliver safe food to the marketplace each and every day.
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 fifteenth 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, with more than 3000 independently certified to the Freshcare standard.
Largest on-farm assurance program
Freshcare is Australia's largest on–farm assurance program and some exciting new Freshcare developments in 2015—including international benchmarking to the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)—will ensure it continues to grow.
Freshcare members implement the Food Safety and Quality Code, currently 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.
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).
Freshcare Environmental
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 in Freshcare
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.
Online training
Freshcare is launching an online training option in mid 2015. The online option will be used in blended training for those new to on farm food safety, and as a standalone refresher module for existing Freshcare businesses, making training more accessible to more businesses.
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, you will be issued with your Freshcare Certificate.
A copy of your Freshcare Certificate will be sent electronically and is also available on your individual FreshcareOnline account.
Freshcare Certificates are valid for 13 months. Annual audits are due 12 months from previous date of audit.
FreshcareOnline—a practical tool to manage your approved suppliers
Freshcare has established its online database 'FreshcareOnline,' to facilitate information flow between program stakeholders.
The 'customer user' aspect of FreshcareOnline has been developed specifically as a tool to assist customer groups such as wholesalers, marketing groups and packing sheds, manage their approved suppliers easily and efficiently.
With over 5500 active grower/packer members of the program (70% having already achieved certification), Freshcare recognises it has an important role to play, not only in supporting its members with their on-farm certification, but also in facilitating information flow throughout the supply chain.
FreshcareOnline has assisted in making Food Safety & Quality certification and communication as simple and straight forward as is possible—for everyone.
For information or questions about the Freshcare Program see Tree Fruit March 2015
