When consumers reach for a tomato grown by a member of California Tomato Farmers, they enjoy a tomato of the highest quality, grown under the strictest food safety standards and harvested by workers who enjoy a safe and positive work environment.

Best Management Practices and Verification

USDA's Validation of the Fresh Standard for Food Safety

Validation of The Fresh Standard for Food Safety is by inspectors of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), certified and trained by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the guidelines of the National Good Agricultural Practice Program, and in accordance with the Commodity Specific Guidance for Fresh Tomatoes as reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. California Tomato Farmers Best Management Practices (BMPs) of The Fresh Standard for Food Safety is reviewed by the CTF Advisory Committee and approved by the USDA. Both scheduled and random audits are conducted.

There are two verification audits that cover the entire production and packing of member product. For the field, the audit covers: farm conditions; farm history; adjacent land use; soil amendment usage; pesticide usage; irrigation water quality; employee and harvest crew practices; first aid; habits and conditions; education and training; harvest; transport and finished product containers; tool usage; transport in the field; and trace-back programs. For the packinghouse, the audit covers: management responsibility; harvest and transport materials; washing and wash water; employee hygiene; education and training; plant condition and equipment; pest control; supplies and equipment; transportation; food defense awareness; and trace-back and recall.