View this email in your browser Issue 18 | February 2021

Freshcare CEO visits production regions in NSW and QLD to actively engage with industry

Freshcare CEO Jane Siebum has been visiting production regions of Northern NSW and South East QLD this week to meet with owner member organisations, growers, packers and central market businesses to gain a first-hand account of their involvement in industry and experience with the Freshcare Standards.

“It was important for me to meet with these producers and representatives early on in my new role, to gain insights into the challenges and opportunities they see for their industry,” Jane said.

“Engagement with industry is crucial to ensuring Freshcare can continue to provide fit for purpose standards and tools to support these organisations. I thank them for their time and the opportunity to discuss the areas that are relevant to them. It’s been a valuable experience to understand some of the challenges faced by industry, and how Freshcare can work towards providing solutions to assist them.”

Jane Siebum will continue to engage in stakeholder visits throughout the year, including other States and Territories as borders open around the country. Freshcare will also be present at Hort Connections in Brisbane from 7-9 June 2021, Trade Show stand 161.

Image above (L to R) - Jane Siebum, Freshcare CEO; Steve and Julie Starkey, Starmaca Orchards Dunoon and Teven; Ross Burgess, Macadamias Direct.

Image above (L to R) – Paul Moosberger, Industry Consultant and Trainer for Freshcare Standards; Jane Siebum, Freshcare CEO; Jolyon Burnett, AMS CEO.

NASAA Certified Organic now an approved Certification Body for the Freshcare Standards

NASAA Certified Organic has recently joined the list of approved Certification Bodies that can offer audits to the Freshcare Standards.

NASAA are in the final processes of training their staff and auditors on the Freshcare program requirements and are actively taking applications for audits to the Freshcare Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice for both Viticulture (AWISSP-VIT) and Winery (AWISSP-WIN) participants.

NASAA are also working on finalising the requirements with their Accreditation Body to have the Freshcare Food Safety & Quality Standards included in the audits they are able to offer for Freshcare participants.

If you are interested in getting a quote from NASAA for your audit services contact their Assurance team on +61 8 7231 7700, email: info@nasaa.com.au or submit an audit quote request here.

This months’ focus on compliance is about closure of corrective action records (CARs) raised at external audits.

Despite preparedness and best intentions, problems can still be encountered during your external audit. If this occurs and the result is a corrective action record (CAR) being raised by your auditor, the follow processes should assist you with what to expect, and how to address any CAR raised to progress to certification granted. Read more

ChemCert Training Group joins Freshcare Recognised Suppliers Register

The Freshcare Recognised Suppliers Register provides industry with access to the credentials and downloadable compliance evidence for a number of suppliers of materials and services. Some of the currently registered Freshcare Recognised Suppliers are displayed above.

The Recognised Supplier Register offers the following functions:

• Search for new suppliers of products and services relevant to industry.

• Refine search results to specific categories and locations.

• Review supplier credentials and access supporting information.

• Find suppliers to source up-to-date compliance evidence.

For more information visit www.freshcare.com.au/recognised-suppliers

Melon Supply Chain Traceability Survey 021

On behalf of the Australian Melon Association and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, the NSW Department of Primary Industries invites producers and packers to participate in a survey on traceability in the melon supply chain.

The objective of the survey is to assess the current status of traceability systems in the Australian melon industry.

Click here to complete the survey, open until 15 March 2021.

Cyber security threats – are we prepared?

There are many ways cyber security can be compromised, with varying impacts on businesses across Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors. To shed light on this potentially damaging issue and provide industry with interventions to address this increasingly sophisticated threat, AgriFutures Australia has embarked on a new project with globally-connected cyber security experts, BDO Australia.

Phase one of the project is to explore the readiness levels across rural industries when it comes to securely managing data, IP and platforms. To achieve this, BDO Australia is conducting a survey and need producers’ help to inform the current state of play.

Click here to access and complete the short survey.

While responses to the survey are anonymous, participants have the option to elect to receive a free personalised report reviewing their cyber resilience and be benchmarked against peers. Read more.

Growcom and Ausveg are urging growers to continue to fill out the National Lost Crop Register survey to help with ongoing advocacy surrounding labour.

The Register will ask for crop, value and location details, including postcodes. You are encouraged to make multiple entries to the register over time as new losses are realised. More information here.

Additional Resources