Freshcare: The National On-Farm Assurance Program Freshcare is an industry owned, not for profit on-farm assurance program, established and maintained to service the Australian fresh produce industry. Freshcare is currently the largest Australian on–farm assurance program for fresh produce; proudly providing on-farm food safety & quality and environmental certification services to over 4300 members nationally. The foundations of the Freshcare Program are the user-friendly Codes of Practice and detailed training support materials. The Freshcare Codes describe the practices required on farm to provide an assurance that fresh produce is safe to eat, has been prepared to customer specifications and legislative requirements; and has been grown with care for the environment. Freshcare currently offers certification to the following Codes of Practice, following participation in an approved Freshcare training course:   Freshcare Food Safety   ·     Freshcare Code of Practice: Food Safety - 3rd Edition - July 2009 ·     Freshcare Code of Practice: Food Safety - 2nd Edition October 2004 (available to existing members until March 2011, no further training to the 2nd Edition)   Environmental ·     Freshcare Code of Practice: Environmental – 1st Edition August 2006   Please click on the links above to download any of the Codes of Practice. The Freshcare Codes of Practice are versatile and user-friendly, created to be implemented as stand-alone programs or integrated as one combined on-farm assurance system. The Freshcare Codes of Practice can also be incorporated with other quality, food safety and farm management schemes. Click on the links below for more information on: Freshcare: Food Safety Freshcare: Environmental   Freshcare Launches 3rd Edition Food Safety & Quality Code The launch of the 3rd Edition Food Safety & Quality Code is another milestone for the Freshcare Program and is a significant step forward in strengthening the acceptance of the industry owned program by a wide range of customer groups; whilst at the same time, achieving consistency in food safety management across the fresh produce industry. The new 3rd Edition was finalised in August 2009 after extensive consultation with all industry sectors and feedback from growers using the previous edition and through grower trials.  Included in the consultation process were major fresh produce retailers such as Coles, Woolworths and IGA. The 3rd Edition code has a more logical, more user-friendly structure and includes improved hazard analysis tools and guidance information, plus practices for managing emerging issues such as allergen control.  Code elements from the 2nd Edition have also been reviewed and in many instances strengthened to ensure Freshcare maintains its position as a widely approved on farm assurance program. As with any new code edition, there will be a transition period before growers currently certified to Freshcare 2nd Edition will have to upgrade to the 3rd Edition.   Until March 2011, Freshcare members have a choice of being audited to 2nd or 3rd Edition Code.  All audits after 1st March 2011 must be against the 3rd Edition Code of Practice. In some instances, customer requirements will alter this timeframe, for example, Coles Housebrand suppliers (includes loose product in Coles black crates / black cartons) must have moved to the 3rd Edition Code by 1st March 2010. The 3rd Edition Freshcare Code is approved for direct supply to Coles supermarkets. Click here for more information on customer acceptance of the Freshcare program.     Freshcare Ltd are proud sponsors of the 'Keep it Real 2009' 6th National Food Safety, Quality and Environmental Assurance Conference. For more information, go to http://www.tqainc.com.au/index.php/qkeep-it-realq-conference/conference-2009