Our Food Safety Standards are Some of the Most Rigorous in the Industry

GAP, GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and FSMA Compliance

Our growers are required to comply with all aspects of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) ensuring imported produce meets the same safety standards required of food produced in the United States in order to support successful fresh fruit programs for our customers and growers. Our growers are required to ensure that the fresh fruit they supply to Sbrocco is harvested, packed, handled, and stored following Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) or Good Handling Practices (GMP).

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Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)

We require all of our growers and exporters to supply us with certificates and audits from Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) recognized third party auditing companies documenting that all farms, cooling facilities and warehouses shall meet and pass GFSI standards or an equivalent food safety program. Audits are performed annually.

Our Grower Safety Requirements Maintain the Highest Level of Quality

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U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

We are the only fruit importer on the East Coast to contract USDA Quality Inspectors to inspect all of our fruit imports upon arrival. Sbrocco and the USDA have a longstanding relationship of working closely together to provide safe, high-quality produce with each and every customer delivery.

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U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

We require all of our growers to be registered with the U.S Food & Drug Administration to ensure that our imports are produced in accordance with the same safety standards as those required of U.S. foods.

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GLOBAL G.A.P. Certification for Producers

GLOBAL G.A.P. is the internationally recognized standard for farm production. The certification covers more than 40 standards including food safety and traceability, environment (including biodiversity), workers’ health, safety and welfare, animal welfare, integrated crop management (ICM), integrated pest control (IPC), quality management System (QMS), and hazard analysis and critical control Points (HACCP).

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PMA’s Produce Traceability Initiative

Sbrocco International and its growers/exporters are in full compliance with PMA’s Produce Traceability Initiative with supply chain-wide electronic traceability. Our produce can be traced from growers’ farms through the supply chain until its final destination at the customer’s warehouse.

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Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)

We request that our supply chain partners become members of the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) in order to assist in supply chain cargo security.

Certifications & Sustainability

In order to promote responsible growing practices, and provide a safe working environment for our workers, many of our growers maintain the following certifications:

  • Organic Certification

    Our organic apples are certified USDA Organic through the U.S. National Organic Program (NOP).

  • Fair for Life

    Fair for Life promotes continuous improvement of working conditions, taking into account labor aspects and social projects for the community.

  • Global GAP Risk Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP)

    Global GAP developed GRASP to assess social practices on the farm, addressing specific aspects of workers’ health, safety, and welfare.

  • Rainforest Alliance

    The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit that works to protect forests, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities, promote their human rights, and help them mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis.

  • Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA)

    For packing facilities, SMETA provides auditing for best practices for labor, health, safety, environment, and business ethics.