Food Safety
Our Dedication to
Our Integrity
At Hansen Farms, we take pride in having the highest integrity when it comes to food safety standards. We have always made food safety a top priority in our everyday practices. Our farm adheres to all aspects of the GAPs guidelines from product testing to routine self-audits of harvest crews, cooling facilities, packing houses and ranches. Hansen Farms was the first farm in New York State to pass all aspects of the USDA audit in 2003. We currently use GLOBALG.A.P for our third party audit and have successfully passed each aspect of their program. Records are on file and available for review upon request.
Our Practices
Pre-Planting
Hansen Farms starts the season conducting ground history and field location assessments on each ranch to analyze any potential food safety risks. We obtain field maps and complete a pre-planting risk assessments for each ranch. A third-party crop and soil consultant tests the soil for appropriate amendments.
Pre-Harvest
Prior to harvest, employees are trained on GAPs guidelines. Employees are trained using video and training material from Cornell University’s National GAPs program and The Arizona Leafy Greens Food Safety Training Kit. Pre-harvest risk assessments are conducted prior to harvesting.
Harvest
Each day, our Food Safety Coordinator evaluates the field conditions, harvest crew, knife sanitation and bathrooms. Our goal is to make sure the people that we employ know the importance of food safety and the risks that could result from negligence. By educating all involved in the harvesting process, risks are minimized, and a quality product is the result. We take pride in ensuring that we provide our customers with a consistent, quality product.
Storage
We take pride in having a clean, safe and well-organized facility. All aspects of our facilities are cleaned and maintained on a regular basis. Trailers are inspected for cleanliness prior to loading.
Cooling
All products are cooled to between 33-40 degrees Fahrenheit prior to shipping.
Shipping
Thanks to an efficient traceability program, we are able to track each bin or box from the field to the customer and all steps in between. Mock recalls and our traceability system are routinely self audited.
Audit
Currently we use GLOBALG.A.P as our auditing company. We also welcome audits by our individual customers.
Microbiological Testing
Upon request, we can provide raw product testing for E. Coli 0157:H7, Salmonella and/or Listeria through an independent third party lab.
Employee Training
Employees are trained several times a year including pre-planting training, pre-harvest training, corrective action training and continuous review throughout the season.