FOOD SAFETY
A CORE VALUE
Food safety is the cornerstone of everything we do at Main Street Produce. By adhering to rigorous Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), we go above and beyond to ensure our products meet the highest safety standards. We conduct regular third-party audits to confirm that every product is safe, traceable, and of the highest quality, reinforcing our commitment to excellence and consumer well-being.
BEST PRACTICES
Safe and Traceable
TRACEABILITY
All of our produce is tracked through an internal database system, allowing us to trace each clamshell of strawberries all the way back to the ranch where it was harvested. We know exactly when it was picked, by whom, and how it made its way to the customer.
Traceability is key when it comes to food safety. In the unlikely event of a safety issue, we can quickly trace the product back to its source, isolate the problem, and make sure that potentially contaminated products don’t make it to the customer. This system also helps us do targeted withdrawals and provide accurate information, reducing any panic that can happen when that kind of information isn’t available.
GAP PROGRAM
Main Street Produce, alongside its sister company Freshway Farms, has developed a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) program that is deeply embedded in our company culture. This program is a key part of the training curriculum for all our field employees.
Our GAP program covers every aspect of the farming process, from growing crops to harvesting and packaging them. It includes practices for preventing cross-contamination from neighboring land, ensuring that all inputs used in farming are free from potential hazards, and addressing safe harvesting, handling, packaging, and transportation procedures.
A strong emphasis is placed on sanitary operations. This includes not only personal hygiene practices like handwashing and proper clothing but also the regular sanitation of harvesting equipment and the responsible behavior of those operating it.
GMP PROGRAM
Our Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) program is designed to ensure that we meet the highest standards in processing, packing, storing, and shipping all produce that passes through our cooling facility. This program outlines detailed procedures for every team member, ensuring that all tasks in the cooler are completed correctly and safely.
The GMP program also covers important aspects of our operations, including personal and equipment sanitation, visitor procedures, and specific clothing requirements that must be worn in the facility. Additionally, it provides guidelines for truck and forklift drivers, as well as maintenance, office, production, and sanitation personnel, to ensure everyone plays a role in maintaining a safe and hygienic environment at all stages of the process.
THIRD-PARTY AUDITS
In addition to conducting routine self-checks to make sure that our GAP and GMP practices are being meticulously followed, we also voluntarily engage Primus Labs, an industry-leading third-party auditing company, to conduct their own independent Primus GFS audits of our operations. Primus GFS is a Global Food Safety Initiative-benchmarked and fully recognized audit covering both GAP and GMP as well as food safety management systems. Because of the well-known rigor of this audit, we are very proud of the fact that Main Street Produce is Primus GFS certified.
A CORE VALUE
We take pride in our comprehensive approach to food safety, integrating strict standards across every step of the process. From our rigorous GAP and GMP programs to our detailed traceability system, every measure is designed to ensure the highest quality and safety of our products. By continuously investing in education, equipment, and processes, we maintain our commitment to delivering safe, traceable, and high-quality produce to our customers.