Fresh Kist Produce, LLC has implemented a food safety program to include all of its growers. Many of them have  been on a program with Primus Labs for several years. The food safety program furnishes retail and food service customers with documented verification of ongoing safe production practices.

Fresh Kist's safe production guidelines religiously follow an ongoing regimen of training, auditing, and posting of results. Fresh Kist has retained Primus Labs to generate audits and the presentation and content of all of Fresh Kist's data electronically posted on Primus Labs' Internet site. This provides Fresh Kist customer assurance unparalleled in the fresh produce industry.

With regard to avoiding the adulteration of product, Fresh Kist and all of Fresh Kist's growers utilize Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).  The Fresh Kist GAP Program is based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "Guide to Minimizing Microbial Hazards in Fresh Fruits and Vegetables" highlights practices in growing, harvesting, packing, storage, and shipping of fresh produce that can reduce or eliminate microbial hazards (http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~acrobat/prodguid.pdf). The level of compliance is verified by field, harvest, crew, packing house and cooling facility audits. These are programs that identify potential sources of contamination and measures to mitigate these risks. On the farm or ranch, this program includes, but is not limited to, lengthy examinations of soil and water sources, fertilizer and pest control programs, adjacent land uses, and other risks from surrounding activities. Harvesting practices and employee hygiene/sanitation issues are also subject to periodic review.

Primus Labs audits processing, ranch, harvest crew, cooling, cold storage, and packing houses used in the production of Fresh Kist's fresh vegetables. Frequency of the audits is posted on Fresh Kist's website at Primus Labs. Also, results of the audits can be reviewed once an access code is issued on Fresh Kist's website at Primus Labs. 

A review of the Fresh Kist web site nested within Primus Labs' Internet site should demonstrate our considerable commitment to food safety. Fresh Kist's efforts and extensive documentation are more than a response to recent pressures exerted by government agencies, threats of litigation or consumer advocates. Our commitment to food safety is genuine and deep as evidenced by our commitment to post updated information that is always available for your review on the Internet at www.primuslabs.com.

Along with our extensive food safety program, we have an extensive Product Recovery Program. This program has been created for the sole protection of our customers and consumers. In the unfortunate circumstance that fresh vegetables were shipped out that did not meet our high standards of food safety, our Product Recovery Program would be implemented immediately. For more information on our extensive recovery program, click below.

Please contact Ariane Allan with any questions.