MADISON — Less than a year after Backyard Farms temporarily shut down its commercial greenhouse because of a whitefly infestation, an independent auditing group says the tomato grower meets global food safety standards for U.S. and Canadian markets.

During the infestation, which closed the greenhouse for about six months, thousands of pounds of tomatoes were taken off shelves and about 200 workers — nearly the entire workforce — were placed on furlough. Greenhouse workers started returning to their jobs in January.

On Tuesday the greenhouse announced it had met GlobalGAP produce standards, a worldwide standard for safe and sustainable agriculture practices.

Backyard Farms is the first company in Maine and the first hydroponic grower in the U.S. to meet the GlobalGAP standards.

The GAP certification, which stands for good agricultural practice, is difficult to achieve, according to Ron Dyer, the director of quality control regulation and assurance for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

“They have to say what they do, do what they say and not only that but they have to prove it,” Dyer said. “The goal is to have a good quality product over and over again so that the buyer can be certain of what they’re purchasing.”

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It is also a powerful private sector tool that could help open up foreign markets, Dyer said, although a spokesman for Backyard Farms said the company has no plans for such an expansion. Backyard Farms sells tomatoes in New England, New Jersey and New York, and the tomatoes are available in stores such as Whole Foods, Hannaford and Walmart.

“A lot of large stores purchase from GlobalGAP certified companies and some even require it,” said Dyer. “It makes sense for someone like Backyard Farms to look at it considering their reach and volume of production.”

The greenhouse was evaluated by Quality Certification Services, a Florida-based group that is accredited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The standards are set by GlobalGAP, a European-based nonprofit organization with a presence in 120 countries around the world and carried out through independent auditors like Quality Certification Services.

“We have always been committed to food safety since day one and this certification is another great example,” Mark Queenan, director of quality assurance and food safety for Backyard Farms, said in a press release Tuesday. “Our associates at Backyard Farms have made this certification possible by embracing food quality and safety as a cornerstone of our corporate culture. Their dedication and vision have enabled us to attain the high quality levels that we have today.”

Backyard Farms, the second largest employer in Madison, reopened Jan. 8 after six months. Production was stopped and about 500,000 plants were destroyed because of a whitefly infestation in July.

The company opened their first greenhouse in Madison in 2007, followed by an 18-acre expansion and the addition of a second greenhouse in 2009.

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State officials said Tuesday they were not aware Backyard Farms had sought the certification, but said it is indicative of the potential for an expanded market for Maine-grown tomatoes.

“It’s an extremely encouraging sign that speaks to the quality of the Backyards Farms product,” said Walter Whitcomb, commissioner for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

GlobalGAP’s standards are similar to the GAP requirements outlined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which Backyard Farms already meets.

Requirements include having a written food safety policy outlining the company’s commitment to food safety, how it is implemented and communicated to employees; visual reminders of the policy; documentation of potential hazards and hazard control procedures; proof of self-auditing and corrective procedures in place; guidelines for employee hygiene at the facility; safe use of agricultural chemicals and fertilizers.

The process to get the GlobalGAP rivals that of the USDA.organic certification, said Jenni Williams, a spokeswoman for Quality Certification Services, an auditing group that provides agricultural certifications including USDA organic certification.

“It’s different but equally as hard,” she said. “It is quite a rigid and grueling process.”

She said the certification makes companies more marketable and can help place products with more retailers.

Rachel Ohm — 612-2368

rohm@centralmaine.com


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