Food Safety

At South Alder Farms, Food Safety has always been a top priority and we have numerous food safety systems in effect.

We are a registered establishment with CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) and are also licenced under the Safe Food for Canadians Act. We achieved HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) registration with CFIA over a decade ago. Our IQF (Frozen) Production Facility is SQF Level 2 Certified. SQF (Safe Quality Food) is a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked food safety standard. Products produced under the SQF Code certification are highly sought after in global markets and by major retailers. We are also Kosher certified.

All fresh blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, currants, gooseberries, and garlic shipped through South Alder Farms are Canada GAP certified. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) is a food safety program that is recognized by the Global Foods Safety Initiative (GFSI). GAP involves general steps, measures, and procedures that control the operational conditions within a production and packing facility allowing for conditions that are favorable to the production of safe food. GAP’s are designed to help implement effective food safety procedures within fresh produce operations. As part of the Canada GAP program, South Alder Farms goes through a complete third party audit every year. This audit includes all aspects of the product chain including growing, harvesting, packing, and distribution. Our farm located in Lynden, Washington, USA also undergoes a Global GAP audit every year.

With all our fresh berries grown, packed, and distributed following the GAP program and all of our IQF berries produced in compliance with SQF Level 2 certification, we are pleased to report that South Alder Farms adheres to the highest industry standards.

South Alder Farms follows an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system. IPM is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management professionally monitored by an independent third party consultant. IPM uses all necessary techniques to suppress pests effectively, economically and in an environmentally sound manner, using a proactive and preventative approach while incorporating a variety of control and treatment options. This involves monitoring our fields using a professional monitoring service and using biological controls whenever possible. We use chemical controls only when necessary and to the specifications and guidelines that have been established by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency. The PMRA is the agency responsible for pesticide regulation in Canada. South Alder Farms blueberry fields located in Lynden, Washington, USA also follow an IPM system and use chemical controls only when necessary in accordance with Washington State Department of Health. By implementing the IPM program, we have decreased our use of chemicals by more than 50% over the past 15 years.