CULIACÁN, SINALOA, MX - The global stage for fresh produce is becoming evermore competitive and as countries rival for a larger piece of the pie, evolving food safety standards are helping to make companies more competitive.

In line with those evolving food safety initiatives, is AMHPAC, the Asociación Mexicana de Horticultura Protegida, A.C., who has brought new standards to its association of growers to raise the bar on fresh produce from Mexico.

“AMHPAC's Food Safety Shield Program is five fold and verifies that its grower members meet the highest standards of safety and social responsibility demanded by our industry,” Oscar Woltman, President of the Association tells me. “Our membership requires the utmost in quality and growing processes and this program is a testament to that.”

So what are these five levels? Oscar breaks them down for me: 

1. Have official government registries – SENASICA and/or FDA.
2. Have a traceability system that’s aligned with the PTI - GS1, HarvestMark, SYS21, etc.
3. Have at least one food safety certification – Eleven Rivers, Mexico Calidad Suprema, etc.
4. Have a food safety certification that is recognized by the GSFI – Primus GFS, Global GAP, FSSC 22000, SQF, ISF, and/or BRC Global
5. Have at least one social and/or environmental responsibility certification- ESR, DEALTI, Intertex WCA, SA 8000, SQF Ethical Sourcing, SMETA, y/o Ethical Standards.

“Our goal is to have protected horticulture in Mexico become synonymous with safe, high-quality, and responsibly-grown produce,” Oscar notes when we speak about the reputable growth within AMHPAC’s membership. 

So, how are they doing it? By identifying the certification needs that the membership may have and provide guidance and resources in order for them to meet those needs. 

AMHPAC has also collected statistical information from its member growers, most of whom have certification initiatives already in place. The association is currently updating the certification of its members as needed, and is also designing a web portal that allows access to information obtained.

“The vision for AMHPAC is to have the entire membership meet level five in the next two years,” Oscar says.

Ensuring complete food safety and quality of all of AMHPAC associates’ produce offerings is the next step in the growth of this evolving sector of the industry. And as AMHPAC tells me, there is more to come.

AMHPAC