Food Safety

Food safety is the #1 priority at Salyer American. Every step of our growing, harvesting and shipping operations is monitored to ensure that consumers receive the highest-quality vegetables possible.

Good Agricultural Practices
Using guidelines developed by the FDA and USDA, our GAP program allows us to provide a safe and clean working environment for our employees while ensuring that the potential for product contamination is eliminated. Routine training and education is provided to all employees and supervisors to ensure that all GAP guidelines are understood and followed. Regular GAP audits of our farming, harvesting, and cooling operations are performed by our internal Food Safety Director.

Testing And Auditing Information
We test all of our water used in irrigation, product rinsing, and cooling for harmful bacteria and pesticide residues. We also test our soils for heavy metals and pesticide residues. Random pre-harvest samples of our product are sent to a state-certified laboratory to be analyzed for pesticides and harmful bacteria. Product is not harvested until we have confirmation that the product is safe.

Salyer American's farming, harvesting, cooling, and shipping operations are audited regularly by reputable third-party auditors. Annual GAP audits of our growing and harvesting operations are performed by Primuslabs.com. Our cooling facilities are audited by both ASI and SGS and have consistently received excellent ratings.

Agricultural Chemicals
To reduce pesticide usage, we employ Integrated Pest Management techniques. These include selecting seed varieties that are more resistant to disease and rotating crops to avoid a build-up of insects. All pest materials used are restricted to those registered by the USEPA. Licensed Pest Control Advisors make all pesticide recommendations. Our pre-harvest sampling program helps to ensure that all products being harvested are within EPA tolerance levels and FDA action levels. Our goal is to have no discernable pesticide residues.

Sustainable Agriculture
At Salyer American Fresh Foods we are good stewards of the land
• Produce Crops with high yields
• Grow for nutritional quality—Orange, Purple and Green Cauliflower
• Genetic diversity
• We practice crop rotation
• This suppresses weeds, pathogens and insect pests
• Committed to health of the land
• Soil management
• Irrigation management
• Utilize Integrated Pest Management systems
• Minimal use of sprays and only at peak population
• Plant cover crops strictly for soil nutrients and health

Social Responsibility
• We provide a positive work environment for all 800 of our employees
• All employees receive benefits
• Health, Life, Vision, Dental insurance, 401K plan
• Scholarship fund for children of employees
• Safety incentives for no time lost injuries
• Mother’s Day bouquets for all female employees
• Holiday gift cards for crews
• Sponsor school & crew’s sporting activities
• Participate in Salvation Army Adopt a Family during the holidays
• Donate to Franciscan Workers (Local Soup Kitchen)
• Participate in Angel Tree (employee and company match)
• Sponsor and participate in Relay for Life (cancer research)