Firm, sliceable tomatoes make California Tomato Farmers tomatoes a perfect fit for Canadian foodservice and retail operations.
California Tomato Farmers (CTF) were the first to require the harmonized tomato food safety standard, developed in conjunction with the United Fresh Produce Association and included input from a wide variety of organizations including the Canadian Horticulture Council.
Our food safety program has been called “Best in Class,” and “Ahead of the Curve” by some of the biggest operators in the industry. What makes our program unique is that California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) inspectors conduct announced and unannounced visits to each of our fields and packinghouses every 90 days during the growing season. The audit reports are then posted online for our customers to view.
Food Safety
Ahead of the Curve
California Tomato Farmers (CTF) were the first to require the harmonized tomato food safety standard, developed in conjunction with the United Fresh Produce Association. Our members must submit to mandatory, season-long audits by USDA’s appointed representative—California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) inspectors who’ve been trained to conduct the harmonized tomato audit. Audits ensure compliance with CTF science-based standards and CTF’s mandatory corrective actions are required to be completed within days, not weeks.
Prior to each season, CTF members are required to attend education classes that bring the latest science to their food safety programs. Seminars also focus on developing rigorous assessments using globally recognized standards.
Best in Class
CTF’s Food Safety Program isn’t just another audit. It’s an integrated program designed to provide a unified, high standard that all of our members must meet every day of the year. It’s something that you, our customers have come to expect. We’ve set the standard. It’s one we intend to live up to not just for a single audit, but in everything we do.
Unprecedented Transparency
CTF customers gain 24 hours a day, seven days a week on-line access to a member’s audit history, from pre-plant assessments, audits results to corrective actions. If there’s a compliance issue, we email our customers with the report.
Standard operating procedures and supporting documents are uploaded to our Azzule developed on-line database for auditors to review before an inspection. Audits of all ranches are required within two weeks from the first day of harvest. Within 24 hours of the audit, results are uploaded to the on-line database for CDFA and USDA supervisors, CTF, and the CTF member to review. Corrective actions, if required, are issued and must be implemented within 3 or 5 days, depending upon the severity of the violation. Re-audits, if required, are conducted within hours. Only then does a member receive certification by USDA of meeting the audit requirements and the CTF compliance standards.
As a customer, you’re able to monitor the entire auditing process on-line, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Audits can be automatically transferred to your company’s automated auditing system.
