Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Canadian hort industry opens food safety certification program to wholesalers and repackers

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

by SUSAN MANN

Wholesalers and repackers of fresh fruits and vegetable can now get certified as part of the horticultural industry’s national food safety program, CanadaGAP.

Heather Gale, executive director of CanadaGAP, says wholesale and repacking businesses have a food safety program developed by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association previously that “existed as a standard.” But now wholesalers and repackers can get a CanadaGAP audit of their business premises done annually based on the produce marketing association’s standard and then get certified under the CanadaGAP program.

“We’ve integrated their requirements from their standard into our certification program and they can now get CanadaGAP certification for repackers and wholesalers,” she says.

Similar to the CanadaGAP program, the produce marketing association’s standard has gone through a technical review by the federal and provincial governments “to make sure that what’s in the standard is technically sound,” Gale explains.

CanadaGAP is a national, voluntary food safety program of standards and a certification system for the safe production and handling of fresh fruits and vegetables, according to a March 21 CanadaGAP press release.

It’s hard to say how many repackers and wholesalers will choose to get certified. Gale says if customers require their suppliers to get certification, then the program is mandatory for them. “We don’t know exactly what the uptake is going to be. It’s driven by the buyers.”

With the repackers and wholesalers now having the option to be certified as part of a food safety program, the entire fresh produce supply chain, including farmers and packers, can follow a food safety program and be audited to ensure they’re meeting requirements.

Gale says more than 2,400 companies across Canada are certified under CanadaGAP. That number includes fruit and vegetable farmers and packers. The participating companies represent an estimated 75 to 80 per cent of the production across Canada. BF
 

Current Issue

August 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

CN’s 2025-26 Grain Plan is now available

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

CN (Canadian National Railway) has released its 2025–2026 Grain Plan. It’s a plan that demonstrates CN’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-performance service through disciplined planning, targeted infrastructure investments, and proactive supply chain collaboration. For... Read this article online

Hot Dry Weather Stresses Ontario Crops

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

According to Ontario’s FieldCropNewscom, several areas across the province have seen very little effective rainfall since early June. This prolonged hot and dry weather is causing stress to corn, soybeans, and wheat, impacting growth and increasing vulnerability to pests. Corn is showing... Read this article online

Hot Ontario Farm Land Real Estate Listings in July

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

A look at some of the most talked-about farmland properties featured on Farms.com and @OntAg Curious about what farmland was turning heads in Ontario this summer? July brought a fresh crop of standout listings that had plenty of people talking. From sprawling acreages to tucked-away... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top