Freshcare food safety & quality (part 4)

 

Getting involved in Freshcare

Getting involved in Freshcare (continued from last month)
For growers new to Freshcare, the process is designed to be as easy as possible, but at the same time ensuring all Freshcare participating businesses have a strong understanding and ownership of the system they implement on farm.
The following is provided as a guide for businesses discussing the path to Certification with their suppliers.
Training
It is a requirement of the Freshcare Program that every business has a team member who completes approved Freshcare training.
Training provides a clear understanding of on-farm issues and establishes the requirements for program implementation and management on-farm.
A number of training options are available, including the online ‘Freshcare eLearning’, group workshops and one-on-one farm visits.
Implementation
Once training has been completed, it’s time to implement the system on farm.
Freshcare Trainers are responsible for guiding businesses through a streamlined process from initial registration to full certification and should be contacted for any queries or problems encountered during implementation.
There is a requirement for some verification testing (product, water etc.) to support the program implementation. This will vary based on risks identified by the individual business and will be covered in training.
Audit
Once the Freshcare system has been implemented and the business is ready for audit, they need to contact a Freshcare Certification Body to schedule an audit.
To become Freshcare certified the business must first successfully complete and pass an audit.
Visit the Freshcare website for Certification Body details. The cost of an audit is set by the individual Certification Bodies; they should be contacted directly for detailed cost information on the services required.
Certification
Once a business has successfully completed their audit, they will be issued with a Freshcare Certificate.
Certificates are issued electronically for ease of communication, hard copies can be issued on request. Freshcare Certificates are valid for 13 months. Audits are due 12 months from previous date of audit.
Freshcare eLearning
The Freshcare eLearning platform was launched in early 2017 with training to the Freshcare Food Safety & Quality Edition 4 Code of Practice (FSQ4).
The Freshcare eLearning platform provides remote access to online training for individuals who are unable to access group or one-on-one training with a Freshcare trainer, or who would prefer to complete training online within their own timeframe.
‘FreshcareOnline’ a practical tool to manage your approved suppliers
The Freshcare database tool ‘FreshcareOnline,’ has been designed to facilitate information flow between program stakeholders.
The ‘customer user’ aspect of ‘FreshcareOnline’ has been developed to assist customer groups such as packing sheds, marketing groups and wholesalers to manage their approved suppliers easily and efficiently.

 

See this article in Tree Fruit June 2017

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