Food Safety
Safety first and foremost.
BC Tree Fruits and the growers we represent are widely recognized as leaders in the area of food safety. In fact, our food safety program routinely meets and exceeds produce industry standards as well as those set out by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Food safety starts in the orchard, where growers follow the Integrated Fruit Production Guide (IFP). The IFP Guide was established by the Canadian Horticultural Council, a voluntary, not-for-profit, national association representing all areas of horticulture. It gives high priority to ecologically sound methods of horticultural production that minimize the impact on the environment and protect human health.
Our growers excel in these two key food safety areas:
1: Water Purity.
Not only do most fruit growers in the BC interior use less water through smart irrigation and water conservation practices, the water quality is high. Much of the irrigation supply that is channelled into orchards comes straight down from the mountains – from streams, glacial lakes, and melting snow pack. In fruits like apples, which are up to 85% water, you’ll taste the difference that clear, fresh mountain water makes.
2: Ecologically friendly pest control.
Bugs aren’t much of a problem here. For the few pests we do have, we prefer an ecosystem-based approach called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It emphasizes low-tech methods that work well without harming the environment. For example, we use natural predators, like ladybugs, to reduce pests. And we employ simple mechanical devices, like sticky paper. The Sterile Insect Release (SIR) program has also greatly reduced our main orchard pest, the codling moth. As its name implies, the program inhibits reproduction among the moths.
Despite our accomplishments in the area of food safety, we still constantly seek new ways to further enhance the safety of our products and the processes required to pack, preserve, and transport them. Working with the Canadian Horticultural Council, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, and the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, the orchard industry is implementing a comprehensive, gate-to-plate (grower to consumer) food safety program.