Quality and Food Safety

As the issue of food safety has risen to the forefront of the Agricultural Industry, it is the responsibility of every shipper to make their food safety program a priority.  Church Brothers and True Leaf Farms have always recognized the importance of Food Safety and have made that belief a top priority in all aspects of business.  As part of our Food Safety program Church Brothers and True Leaf Farms have always adhered to the Good Agricultural Practices Guidelines, established through continuous auditing of Harvest Crews, Processing Facilities, Cooling Facilities, Ranches and Water Testing.  Our scores through 3rd party audits have been excellent, and our clean history has supported its effectiveness, thus reinforcing the validity of our Food Safety Programs.  

In light of recent events, Church Brothers has met the changing face of Food Safety practices head on, upgrading already effective Food Safety programs, and partnering in the development of a Food Safety and Quality company, Lighthouse FS&Q.
In creating Lighthouse, an experienced and highly knowledgeable Food Safety director and support team was hired, proactive in the development of responsible programs and safe practices, that will meet and exceed industry needs.  Lighthouse serves as a consultant for Church Brothers and True Leaf Farms food safety practices.  Their consulting services and safety expertise are also available to be utilized by others in the industry developing active food safety regimens.

Church Brothers and True Leaf implement the following protocol in handling their Leafy Greens.

• Pre Plant Risk Assessment
• Pre harvest Risk Assessment completed within 7 days of harvest
• Harvest Risk Assessment
• Independent 3rd party audits of all Ranches and Harvest Crews through Primus Labs
• Internal Verification Audits of Ranches and Harvest Crews
• Pesticide Clearance Process is completed to ensure the field is clear to harvest
• Harvest cannot begin until field has been cleared by CB/TL
• Daily Harvest machine cleaning and ATP swabbing programs
• Harvest equipment storage and staging area program
• Packing materials storage and staging area program
• Review, confirmation, and maintenance of all irrigation water analyses from all ranches to ensure that they meet LGMA requirements
• Review, confirmations, and maintenance of all soil amendment analyses from all ranches to ensure that they meet LGMA requirements
• Continuous training on all of the above
  

Church Brothers and True Leaf Farms believe it is our responsibility to be transparent to our customers regarding our food safety efforts.  That is why we are one of the first companies to offer Online Access to Raw Product Test Results.  By implementing this program we make all test results readily available to our customers through a simple online log in.  Through this site, you can access information regarding field tests, sample lots and product tests.  The results are right there, just as we see them from the lab.

 

With the diligence of Church Brothers and True Leaf, one can be assured that heightened Food Safety awareness and constantly evolving quality and safety programs, are issues met and implemented daily.  It is our priority to keep abreast of the latest developments in the produce industry regarding food safety, and how to best take a proactive approach in ensuring the safety of our products.

If you would like to read more about our Food Safety and Recall Procedures, download the following documents:

Church Brothers and True Leaf Farms Food Safety Program

Church Brothers and True Leaf Farms Recall Procedures

Or visit our third party auditor sites:

Primuslabs.com/church

Lighthouse Food Safety and Quality