Copy
Issue 35    |    June 2022
Share Share
Tweet Tweet
Forward Forward

Hort Connections 2022 -
Thank you to Industry

Freshcare CEO Jane Siebum with Benestar Representative Beverley Atkinson.

Freshcare CEO Jane Siebum

The Freshcare team and Board had the great pleasure of taking part in this year’s Hort Connections trade show. Events like this are so important, giving us the chance to connect in one place, shaping much of our industry’s conversation and focus for the year ahead. It was particularly special this year meeting face-to-face with many who couldn’t previously make it, due to border restrictions and COVID lockdowns.

The Freshcare Board and team were pleased to connect with so many of our growers, wholesalers, and program participants in person. It’s always productive to discuss the challenges and opportunities our growers and industry businesses face.

A particular highlight was the attendance of Benestar representatives, our partners in providing free wellness, mental health, and financial counselling to all Freshcare participants. We are proud to continue supporting our growers and supply chain businesses who have faced a challenging few years during a pandemic, climate, and weather catastrophes.

Read more on Benestar

We were excited to meet the new Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries the Honourable Murray Watts, who outlined three major focus areas for the agriculture sector: labor shortages, biodiversity, climate change, and sustainability. Time and again feedback from our participants have centred on the urgent issues Senator Watts outlined in his speech.

We would like to thank the organisers of Hort Connections 2022 for a fantastic, smooth running, and professional event.

Additionally, Freshcare would like to thank everyone who visited our stand and provided valued input and commentary on our programs and strategic initiatives. It wouldn’t have been possible without the support and feedback from all our growers and participating businesses.

A special call out to The Glue, who developed our interactive “Sure Thing” game, and to all who played it.

I would also like to thank all our Freshcare Directors who were able to attend the event and represent our passionate, experienced, and hardworking organisation.

As our industry moves further towards 2023, Freshcare is excited to play a role in removing the duplication of compliance activities for growers and developing additional resources to support the recognition of good agricultural practice and compliance activities. Our team is also continuing to explore avenues to better represent the industry on food safety matters, environmental standard capabilities, and broadening certification pathways.

Congratulations to Freshcare's HortConnect Winners!

Freshcare congratulates this year's “Connecting Communities” prize winners.

Running concurrently for the week of Hort Connections 2022, we offered those attending to play our online interactive game “Sure Thing”. We also offered those subscribed to our newsletter or following Freshcare social media a chance to win.

Taking out the prize for Fastest Game Player was Annabelle Radcliff.

Annabelle and her mum Heidi attended Hort Connections, traveling from Rhebanvale in Tasmania, a family farm based in Wesley Vale, that grows a variety of vegetable products, including potatoes, broccoli, peas, beans, carrots, and onions.

“I loved going to the conference for the first time with my parents and especially loved meeting the people at Freshcare, who were really lovely.

I really loved playing the game - it was so much fun!! It was heaps more fun when I realised that I could get the highest score and I kept competing against two guys who also really wanted to win.

I hope you have something like it again next year. Thanks, Freshcare - you made my visit really fun and I learned heaps!” said Annabelle.

Our Individual Prize for a pair of BOSE noise-cancelling headphones went to F. Graham from QLD.

Our Business Prize of a Digital Security Audit worth $5k (donated by The Glue) went to V. Willmott from Busselton WA.

The Freshcare team would like to thank all that played “Sure Thing” subscribed to our newsletter and liked, shared, and tagged our social media pages!

Smart Farms Virtual Field Day 

Freshcare was part of the Virtual Field Day at one of AustChilli's pilot farms involved in the Smart Farm project. The event was hosted by AustChilli, AHR, Hitachi Vantara, and other project partners on 26 May 2022.
The Smart Farms project uses digital remote monitoring to improve horticulture environmental performance. It is a multi-stakeholder, multi-industry project focused on building digital innovations to drive improvements in soil and water resource management in sensitive catchments across the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland.

Austchilli Group, a leading grower and food manufacturer in Bundaberg, Queensland provided two of the pilot farms participating in this project with vegetables (Chillies) and avocadoes. These farms have integrated sensors into everyday practice through technologies including the use of run-off flume, dendrometers, and water balance models.

The objectives of these projects included:
  • Improve environmental stewardship in farming operations for eg. Minimising fertiliser leaching.
  • Improve irrigation and fertigation productivity.
  • Improve the businesses profitability.

How the Smart Farms Project aligns with Freshcare's 2030 Vision


The project will quantify, monitor, and communicate environmental performance as a business tool via a monitoring dashboard for producers. This can be used to support and demonstrate continuous environmental improvement, and provide remote monitoring opportunities for audit outcomes.

Freshcare hopes to achieve the following from its support of the Smart Farms project:
  • The ability for producers to support their claims – such as bananas reef assured.
  • Involvement in projects that can demonstrate that growers can start to make their own claims and certification can help verify processes.
  • Assist growers to prepare for audits by reducing duplication of records and saving time.
  • Value in data leads to an exploration of what can be presented in remote auditing cases
Watch the Virtual Field Day webinar recording to find out more about the Smart Farms project.

Reminder on Testing Requirements and Frequency for Food Safety Standards

Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) Testing:

The Freshcare Food Safety & Quality Standard requires each participating business to complete a multi-screen test that includes chemicals used as part of your spray program and, where applicable, postharvest chemicals.

A rotation system must be used so that a different crop is tested each year.

There should be more than one product tested, where there are significant differences in crop groupings managed, and/or chemical application/treatment programs.To ensure appropriate control of risk, a business must assess whether further testing is required. If required, product testing is to be completed by a NATA-accredited laboratory.

Please note that customer-specific requirements may differ to Freshcare requirements and hence residue testing per crop may be necessary for some customers.

Standard Testing Requirement Frequency
Food Safety & Quality MRL Is conducted before initial Freshcare certification and then annually, or more frequently, if required by a customer specification. A rotation system must be used so that a different crop is tested each year.

Water testing:
Water sourced from creeks and rivers, dams, bores, and water storage tanks, may be contaminated by biological organisms that may include food safety pathogens or chemicals. Water quality can also vary greatly between sources available on your property. A pre-harvest water risk assessment will identify whether water used during production poses a food safety risk to your produce and how to manage any risk identified. 

Water used postharvest must meet specific water quality limits to prevent microbial contamination of your final product. To ensure specified water quality limits are met, treatment and verification testing may be required. 

Standard Testing requirement Frequency
Food Safety & Quality
(Pre & Post harvest)
Water (Supplied via an external provider) External provider to provide Certificate of compliance, water test results annually.
Water (Treated on farm) Is conducted before initial Freshcare certification and then annually, to verify the treatment process is effective.
Water (Untreated) Monthly during period of use, or historically proven (at least 4 consecutive tests below specified limits) + annually before use to demonstrate consistency.

Please note water source monitoring includes identifying potential risks so they can be assessed and managed to ensure food safety and quality is not compromised.

If a risk is identified on-farm that may adversely impact water quality, such as the potential contamination of a water source following heavy rainfall, additional water testing to verify water quality should be undertaken.
 

Standard Testing requirement Frequency
Supply Chain
(Post-harvest)
Water (Supplied via an external provider) External provider to provide Certificate of compliance, water test results annually
Water (Treated on site) TBC

Freshcare Technical Steering Committees

What are the Technical Steering Committees and what do they do?
The Freshcare Technical Steering Committees (TSC) provide guidance on the development, review, amendment and improvement of the Freshcare Standards.

As a purpose-driven organisation, Freshcare offers the most cost-effective, user friendly, Australian owned and operated certification program in the current market.  Our prescriptive programs, developed in conjunction with Industry working groups and technical steering committees, are provided to support all our participants.   

The Freshcare Technical Steering Committees are responsible for the review and suggested amendments of the Standards.

How are TSC Members chosen?

The Committee members are reviewed and appointed annually. Our selections aim to address emerging issues across the various scopes and applications of the Freshcare Standards through technical experts from a diverse range of industry sectors and specialities. Each member is experienced in developing management systems across food safety, environment and sustainability.

Meet our TSC Members: Alex Radevski (Radevsiki Coolstores) and Richard Bennett

Why did you join the TSC? 
 

Richard Bennett: For me, it was an opportunity to give something back. The whole concept of Freshcare from the beginning – industry-owned and industry responsive, is unique and worth supporting. I like the idea of self-governance within the constraints of retail and processing customers, government stakeholders, and audit requirements.

Alex Radevski: I have a family member who was previously involved in Freshcare Committees and really enjoyed the experience. The TSC was looking to add grower representatives and had approached my family member for possible candidates, I was then approached and jumped at the opportunity to get involved. 

What sort of changes or inputs have you helped oversee during your tenure? 

Richard Bennett: I’ve been involved in the most recent versions of the Food Safety and Quality (FSQ) and Supply Chain standards. We respond to what the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) requires the standards to meet and try to frame that in the most relevant and achievable way for Australian growers and supply chain businesses.

It’s a delicate balance between what’s fair and reasonable to expect industry to adopt, and what’s excessive.

Alex Radevski: As I am new to the TSC I haven’t had a great impact on projects. However, I was involved in changes made to Supply Chain Standards 2 (SC2). 

What specialty do you have in horticulture/industry, and how does it help you contribute to the TSC? 

Richard Bennett:
I started off as an agronomist and worked for industry associations before food safety and quality assurance became a thing. Then the big question: "How do I become an Approved Supplier?" came along. 

A small team from around the country naturally gravitated together, led by Scott Ledger from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (QDPI). We’ve spent the last 30+ years developing solutions to fresh produce food safety problems. That corporate knowledge and mentoring can be useful occasionally! I’ve also trained many growers in Freshcare over the years and feel that I’m on their wavelength.

Alex Radevski: I am a grower representative on the TSC. My family invested in their first orchard over 60 years ago, and I am now a 4th generation orchardist.

I have been involved in the business for a few years and currently oversee the implementation of FSQ. As I am involved and using a Freshcare module day in and day out I can bring a practical side to discussions and often vouch for the average grower/packer. 

 

What qualifications/research do you do to make sure that the decisions and contributions you make are up to date with industry standards? 

Richard Bennett:
 I’m a great one for not taking anything I read for granted! I always double-check before I commit. If I was a builder, I’d measure twice and cut once.

Then I edit just to make sure. Being based in the Goulburn Valley for most of my career, getting feedback direct from growers has been a regular feature.

Alex Radevski: I like to keep up to date with many things happening in the horticulture industry through publications and articles. I take a keen interest in advancements in the apple and pear sector and enjoy talking with other growers in the area to ensure that standards stay relevant and practical. As a grower representative on the TSC, it is important to ensure that my contributions align with others in the industry.

Freshcare and the Technical Steering Committees encourage suggestions for improving the Standards from all users. Suggestions should be submitted to Freshcare Ltd via our email info@freshcare.com.au or through the Contact Us page.

Register Your Interest in Assurance Essentials Industry Training

As Freshcare invests in opportunities to reimagine the delivery of its learning resources, we have partnered with Satinbird Education to create a unique short course offering – Assurance Essentials.

We are offering 20 people the opportunity to complete this course free of charge, as part of our piloting and testing phase – welcoming your feedback and insights into how we can further upskill our industry.

Assurance Essentials is an online course developed to support employees working across the whole fresh produce supply chain.
It provides learners with an understanding of the management principles across the Freshcare Standards:
  • Building recording keeping skills.
  • Document management.
  • Processes and principles that develop a leading food safety culture.
  • Commitment to quality assurance. 
Once completed we’ll ask for you feedback in a short survey. You will receive an Assurance Essentials Digital Badge Certificate, which you can add to your mobile wallet as proof of your professional training.

To register your interest email media@freshcare.com.au or chat to our team on 02 8039 9999.

Early Bird Registrations Open for the 2022 Fresh Produce Safety Conference

The Fresh Produce Safety Centre is hosting the 2022 Fresh Produce Safety Conference in Sydney and online on 11 August 2022. This year's theme is Promoting Skills, Science, Systems and Standards. The one-day conference will explore promoting skills for food safety in the fresh produce industry, engaging with the latest food safety science, improving systems and implementing standards. The conference day will be followed by four post-conference skills workshops.

Expected to bring together over 200 food safety practitioners, CEOs, managers, food technologists, researchers, growers, and supply chain specialists, the conference is a key event to engage with the latest in fresh produce food safety and network with industry peers.

Conference Topics:

  • Food safety starts at the top – CEOs on food safety in fresh produce.
  • Primary production and processing standards: implications and resources.
  • Fresh produce food safety research update.
  • Industry panel session: Skills, sustainability, labour, and culture - food safety in everything we do
  • Hear from next-gen food safety researchers.
  • Multiple post-conference skills workshops.

Early bird prices are now available!

Register Here

Visit the conference website

Audit Booking FAQs

When should you book your first audit?

If you are seeking certification for the first time, Freshcare recommends you seek several quotes and lock in an audit date with your preferred certification body, three to four months before you would like it conducted.

Do I need to book for recertification?

Yes, arranging a booking for your renewal or recertification audit prior to your certificate expiring is important. Freshcare will send an email reminder to book your audit approximately 4 months before your certificate expires. It is up to you who you choose which certification body you will schedule to go with, specific to your produce or business operations and certification cycle.
 

How to book your audit?

If you are ready to book your audit, contact a Certification Body or complete the Audit Quote Request Form.

If you require any assistance or have difficulty booking your audit with a Certification Body, please contact us on Ph: 02 8039 9999 or info@freshcare.com.au

Further information on booking and preparing for your renewal audit can be found at www.freshcare.com.au/booking-your-audit.

What are Unnannounaced audits and are they applicable to my business?

Unannounced audits are applicable to recertification or renewal audit cycles for businesses participating in Freshcare Food Safety and Quality Standard Edition 4.2 (FSQ4.2) or Freshcare Supply Chain Standard Edition 2 (SCS2) only. 

An unannounced audit format will replace a fixed audit date audit for some businesses as they cycle through their recertification period.

Further information on unannounced audits, options, and rules can be found in detail under Audit FAQS.

Welcome to Our New Premium Recognised Supplier

Terra Firma Fertilisers

For over 35 years Terra Firma Fertilisers has specialised in the manufacture of organic and organic-based fertilisers to suit the needs of budding gardeners to commercial growers.

Terra Firma partners with growers all over Australia, their products are produced with various quality inputs and are relied upon and trusted to deliver exceptional results.

The heart of their range is a biologically active composted poultry manure base which is then boosted by nutrients to formulate premium products such as Poultry Manure Pellets, Organic Life ® and Grassmaster ®.  Working to improve the physical, biological, and chemical factors of soil health, these biologically active, high-carbon products deliver vital nutrients to strengthen crop yields.

Find out more about Terra Firma Fertilisers here.

2022 Renewed Premium Recognised Suppliers

Katek Fertilizers Australia

Katek Fertilizers manufactures a range of certified organic and organic-based fertilizers and soil conditioners including liquid fertilizers and pelletised products based on composted poultry manure. Pelletised products are available in small bags and bulk bags as well as loose bulk.

Find out more about Katek Fertilizers Australia here.

2022 Renewed Standard Suppliers

Carbon Plus Compost

Carbon Plus Compost and Candy Soil have been producing quality composts in Ipswich QLD for over 25 years.

The compost and mulch produced by Carbon Plus Compost is a high-grade compost blended to suit the needs of the agricultural market.

Find out more about Carbon Plus Compost here.

DIY Systems Support Pty Ltd

DIY Systems Support provides excellent innovative Freshcare training and Freshcare and HARPS implementation support and consultation. When required they provide remote services with Task QA to deliver confidence in compliance to you.

Task QA is an excellent ICT to assist with Freshcare 2-Stage Audits to make audits as effective as possible for all categories of Freshcare participants. Task QA allows a paperless quality management system. It is the game-changer that you need.

Find out more about DIY Systems Support here.

Understanding Freshcare fees and the costs of Certification

What are the costs of Freshcare certification for my business?

The Freshcare Program fee table below  effective 1 July 2022, outlines the fees captured and derived to Freshcare.
In addition to Program fees businesses will need to account for implementation costs and service fees for audits.

Implementation costs: The cost of implementation of each Freshcare Program will vary per business. Costs to consider during program implementation and ongoing management of the Freshcare Programs include training on the Standards requirements, various forms of testing and costs associated with the development or review of business policies and processes.

Service fees for audits: To achieve Freshcare Certification, audits are undertaken by independent Certification Bodies. The costs for audits, inspections or assessments (time, travel costs) and services provided by the Certification Body are negotiated directly between the business and the Certification Body and depend on the individual pricing policies, duration of the audit activity, travel costs, the time needed for preparation, and follow-up.

Find out more about Fee Changes (Effective 1 July 2022) here.

Quick links

Email
LinkedIn
Link
Facebook
Twitter
Website
Copyright © 2022 Freshcare Ltd, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.