Food Safety

Food Safety Program

At Highland Fruit Packers, food safety is our top priority. Our food safety program ensures each berry is carefully handled, inspected, and packaged to meet the highest standards of quality and safety, providing fresh and wholesome berries to our customers.

Product Traceability

To guarantee full product traceability, every batch of our berries is assigned a unique Grower Identification Code (GIC). This code follows the berries through every stage of the production process, allowing us to trace each product back to its source, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Farm Food Safety Standards

Our farms follow Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), established by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These practices are continually updated with education and safety protocols that reflect the latest food safety standards. We monitor all farm operations to ensure compliance with these stringent guidelines.

Third-Party Audits

To maintain our food safety certifications, we partner with third-party independent auditors (GFSI) to assess our farms and facilities. These audits ensure that the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and Hazardous Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) processes are being followed, in line with the highest standards set by the CFIA, FDA, and USDA.

Pesticide and Water Management

Our growers comply with all local and federal regulations regarding pesticide use, and all pesticides are applied in accordance with import and export guidelines. Additionally, water quality is meticulously monitored, with irrigation water sourced from deep wells or municipal sources. Regular microbial testing is conducted to guarantee the safety and suitability of water used on our farms.

Preventing Contamination

We employ advanced technology to ensure that our berries meet the highest safety standards. Every batch undergoes laser sorting, metal detection, and continuous visual inspection to identify and eliminate any potential contaminants. Our commitment to excellence ensures that once packaged, our berries remain untouched until they reach the consumer, maintaining the utmost freshness and quality.