Food Safety

CHELAN FRUIT is committed to providing the highest quality apples, pears and cherries with state-of-the-art storage facilities, high-tech packing lines and efficient, timely distribution services. We are dedicated to producing tree fruits that meet or exceed our customers’ expectations and give us a competitive edge in the marketplace while reducing potential liabilities due to food safety issues.

 It is Chelan Fruit’s philosophy that food safety and quality begin in the field with the growing operation. Food safety standards must be maintained in the orchard so that only safe, high-quality tree fruits are harvested and brought to the warehouse for packing. To ensure these goals are met, Chelan Fruit has established, and will maintain, a Food Safety Program.  This program is designed for tree fruit production and based on the requirements of the SQF Code (Safe Quality Food).  

In July 2007, Chelan Fruit packing facilities were certified compliant with the SQF Code. In 2020, Chelan Fruit brought all its growers into compliance with the SQF Edition 8 Code for a unified approach to food safety. The SQF Code is based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems. This program is accepted globally and is approved by the European Union, Canada, Japan, and the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Chelan Fruit has committed a full-time staff to ensure our food safety programs are maintained at the highest levels. We strive to stay up to date and continually improve the process of safe growing, harvesting, storage and packing practices. Our team works with our growers and warehouse personnel to make sure they are aware of the changing landscape of food safety, keeping us at the forefront of our industry.