August 17, 2011

By Ed Terrell, Director, Quality Assurance

Avendra Education Week is an annual event that takes key Avendra personnel, out of the office and into the supply chain to get hands on experience. Associates learn not only from suppliers, but from other seasoned Avendra associates as well who have years of experience in food production, quality assurance and distribution. This year’s Education Week took place in the fields of our produce growers and shippers in and around Salinas, California. The focus was on produce safety, quality and traceability.

The group took an in-depth look at various commodities such as leafy greens, berries, organics and further processed produce items. We spent time analyzing the produce industry from seed to final distribution. Starting with the seed production, we saw how selection, species, refinement and density sorting can increase yields and promote healthier plants. We also saw how each plot of land is carefully rotated to prevent nutrient exhaustion and disease.

From seed production and planting, the group toured several growing areas and witnessed crews field packing romaine hearts, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and baby chard (for organic salad mixes). It was amazing to see the skill with which these commodities are picked, trimmed and packed. We saw the commodities diverge into either further processed produce, or go off to the coolers and chillers to be distributed as field packed produce. Further processed produce, such as spring mix, was then washed, blended and packaged.

We learned about organic production versus traditional farming. While everyone knew the basics of land use and pesticide prohibition, there were interesting presentations on natural pest competition (like lady bugs) and natural soil preparation (crop rotations, composting). For example, did you know that when a head of Romaine lettuce is harvested for the heart, almost 50% of the original head is left in the field to be turned back in to the soil? While this is good for future crops, it can be surprising to see how much product is left in the fields. 

Often, these trips help confirm that the expectations we establish in our contracts match what is happening in the fields. In this instance, it was exciting to see the field level tracking improvements Avendra produce growers and shippers have implemented. With recalls happening frequently, it is comforting to know that Avendra approved growers and shippers can now trace every case to the exact picking date, area of the field and harvest crew. Just a few years ago, produce was difficult if not impossible to trace back to its origins, but today all of our growers and shippers are ready for the new Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) set to take place later this year.

Overall, this was a great opportunity for Avendra associates. Being in the produce fields increases our expertise, allows us to share best practices with suppliers and one another and ensures our customers are getting the best quality and freshest produce available.