Food Safety

At Rouge River Farms, Food Safety is an integral part of our entire operation.  It includes growing, harvesting, cooling, packing, and distribution.  It also includes employee training.  We expect every individual to support this policy and ensure that our food safety and quality standards are properly applied. We ensure compliance with all relevant food safety legislation and regulations and to apply “Best Practices” in management and Food Safety hazards. RRF is a member of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Food Safety is dynamic in nature.  Every management action ensures that Food Safety not only fits comfortably into the overall objective of Rouge River Farms but that it is also regulated, understood and easily executed by each and every employee. 

OUR STANDARD: Rouge River Farms utilizes GFSI Benchmarked 3^rd party audit companies to ensure food safety standards are met.  Superior scores have been received from both PRIMUSgfs and Canada Gap Food Safety Audits annually.  Our company is committed to providing superior quality sweet corn that is fresh, safe, and meets the expectations of our clients and customers.  RRF defines appropriate systems and standards for raw material sourcing, processing, distribution, contractors, supplier quality assurance, microbiological testing, HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control point analysis), implementing risk control measures, Good Manufacturing Processes, traceability and crisis management.

Accountability: Our Company is committed and accountable for implementing, regulating and being compliant to this policy and measuring best practices to maintain a food safety system which ensures safe quality foods for its customers.  The resulting food safety system is an integrated system which is systematic, organized and addresses the safety concerns from farm to retail including a traceability program.   The management team of RRF is committed to utilizing available resources to provide employees with resources to continually improve the systems and standards of procedure.  Systems are in place for the recording of deviations and unusual occurrences to be investigated and documented with corrective actions.

• Train employees in the competent performance of their own assigned duties
• Monitor compliance with and conduct our sweet corn packaging in accordance with the Primus GFS, Canada Gap and respective regulatory requirements
• Utilize company resources and observe Good Manufacturing Processes and procedures which are written out in standard operating procedures
• Ensure our sweet corn production is conducted in sanitary facilities that do not expose food product to contamination
• Be pro-active in assessing potential food safety risks and implementation of risk control measures
• Encourage a partnership relationship with our clients for food safety
• Encourage team problem solving through all levels of the company to identify and implement work practices that continually improve food safety standards and productivity
• Report and investigate incidents, then improve systems and practices to prevent recurrence
• Train, develop and support  employees to competently package sweet corn in accordance with GMPs, take responsibility for improvement of quality
• Continually develop managers and supervisors of food quality, safety skills and practices
• Use an independent audit program to ensure compliance with Global Food Safety Initiative standards
• Provide information to employees, contractors, suppliers, customers and clients to keep them informed of food safety and quality issues
• Measure our progress from year to year based on audit scores and corrective actions reports and to continually upgrade our production facility
• Review our policy annually
• Ensure contractors and suppliers comply with company policies and procedures and contribute ideas to improve our operations

CONTACT US FOR WHOLESALE INQUIRIES

Sustainable farming

Rouge River Farms, believes that the most sustainable system of farming is an approach that includes the use of conventional farming technology combined with core principles of organic methodology.

Environmentally Conscious

We at Rouge River Farms, take a hybrid approach to managing our farming operations. At the field level, this means embracing the core ‘organic’ principles of crop rotation, the use of cover crops and the practice of composting. These practices help to build soil organic matter, maintain fertility and preserve water. Combining these practices with conventional technology allows for the adoption of minimum tillage optimizing carbon capture and production outcomes.