Food Safety

Business practices have long reacted to changes in our society. However, here at Titan Peach Farms we believe the proactive approach can benefit all of us. Having these beliefs, in 2001 we began the process of self-auditing our farming operation with regard to food safety concerns.

Food Safety
Titan Farms is committed to producing and supplying only safe quality fruit and vegetables. From our fields and orchards to the box, our products are grown, packed and shipped to our exacting standards. We control every aspect of our operation to assure only the freshest, safest, and best quality produce are used in our packing process, while controlling all the parameters to achieve the highest customer satisfaction. In our fields, orchards, and pack house our highly trained employees utilize Good Agriculture Practices, (GAP) and Good Manufacturing Practices, (GMP) to insure our products are grown, harvested and packed in the safest possible conditions. Our efforts have been very successful. Over the past five years we received a 95% rating (95-100% is considered superior) on our food safety program through third party audits by Primus. In addition, we are working toward a certification based on Global Safe Food Initiatives, (GSFI) and plan on achieving certification next year. You can find a link to that audit in the links section of this site. Take a moment to look at it to see exactly what we are doing to insure Titan Brand Peaches are as safe as they are tasty.

In our packing facility, we have an extensive cleaning and sanitation program to insure food safety. We begin by closely monitoring every area of the packing shed that comes in contact with the fresh fruit. The facility and equipment are thoroughly cleaned after each operation and to ensure there is no contamination of any kind. We also have wireless recording of our cooler temperatures protecting the fruit after it is picked. We constantly monitor the pH levels in our water as well as the free chlorine levels that act as a disinfectant. This information is downloaded into a computer program to be tracked throughout the season.

We have an intensive training program for our employees to ensure they are trained in exactly how to properly clean and care for each part of the machine and the facility. The actions of our employees are regulated to insure against cross-contamination of any kind, just as any food company does.

We take great pride in the fact that we have received a superior rating in this food safety audit. Please feel free to take a look at this comprehensive audit to learn even more about the lengths we take to be certain that the fruit you purchase at your local grocer is fresh and safe to eat.

The key to any successful food safety program is record keeping and inventory control. Our record keeping goes well beyond required standards and it is aided tremendously by our computerized equipment. Through technology we are able to trace our fruit from your neighborhood grocery store back to the field.

TRACEABILITY
Titan Farms traces our products from the field to the customer. Utilizing state of the art technology and software Titan Farms identifies each lot of peaches and bell peppers as they are harvested in the field and placed into bins identified by bar codes. As each bin arrives at the Pack House it is scanned into a software program and identified with a specific lot which is characterized with the product variety, the field, the harvest crew, and the harvest date. In addition, each lot is assigned specific locations in the storage coolers. As each lot is scheduled for packing it is assigned a unique Titan Farms Lot Identification Number that remains with the lot throughout the packing, storage, and shipping process. This number is placed on each product container, pallet, and shipping Bill of Leiden. If a problem is identified with a specific number, then Titan Farms Management can trace the product back to the field, when it was harvested, when it was placed into storage, when it was packed, and when and to the customer it was shipped. Through the Titan Farms Food Safety and Security Program, the Titan Farms Traceback/Recall Program is tested at a minimum annually.

Food Security
The terrorist actions of September 11, 2001, and the Bioterrorism Act of 2002, significantly increased the nation’s awareness of the possibility of a significant threat to the Nation’s food supply. Titan Farms is committed to ensuring that our products, peaches and vegetables are protected against adulteration by a deliberate act of sabotage or terrorist acts that would cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals.
Titan Farms’ facilities are secured within reasonable measures. All our fields and orchards are identified and physically observed on a periodic basis. The wells and ponds are inspected and the water tested on a periodic basis. The farms’ operations and pack house complex is secured by a surrounding fences and a close circuit TV system monitors all entrances, storage rooms, and other critical areas. In addition, chemicals, soil amendments, toxic materials, detergents, and packaging are stored in separate secure facilities and locations to prevent tampering and cross contamination.

All employees are screened with reasonable background checks prior to employment including references. Our migrant employees are employed through the H2A Migrant Worker Program and all H2A employees are screened by the US and Mexican Governments annually through the Visa, application, and approval process. All Titan Farm’s employees receive annual training on our security policies and procedures.