Our Philosophy
Being one of the largest family owned blueberry farms in the world comes with great responsibility. Our staff is dedicated to perpetuating the highest standards in the industry in order to ensure the safety and wholeness of our products. From ethically sourced labor to traceable packaging, our company is at the forefront of innovation in our industry. We work with the industry's top professionals to ensure that the services we provide are the best you can find. Our goal is to help you exceed yours.
Food Safety
Our top priority is to ensure the cleanliness, safety, and wholeness of our products. Our third-party auditors have verified time after time, the efficacy of our food safety management systems (FSMSs), the cleanliness of our field operations, and our compliance with Good Agricultural Principals (GAPs) and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs). We are proud to offer our products as a PrimusGFS Certified supplier.
Furthermore, our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) staff is unmatched when it comes to eliminating the risk of contamination in the fields. Along with daily scouting and record keeping, our management systems have the ability to pinpoint the location of crop risks, and determine the best solution for control and/or eradication of each risk. With breakthroughs in crop protection materials and our ability to track and map material applications, our management systems are able to determine the best timing for pre-harvest operations, crop-protection regimens, harvest, and post-harvest operations in order to ensure the efficiency and safety of our operations for both our employees and our customers.
Traceability
Every single package processed in our fresh processing facility is labeled with its own unique 2-D barcode. This is the basis of our response to the Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) of 2008. In order for a supplier to be considered PTI compliant, it must provide identification information at the case level. We took this initiative one step further in providing traceability information at the individual unit package level. This information allows suppliers to directly identify the source of their products in the event of a recall.
Furthermore, the PTI software we utilize on our end of the system allows us to find detailed information about each individual unit we ship. This level of traceability gives us the ability to pinpoint the source of any product we release to the market.
We are also trace-forward compliant. We have the capability to determine who receives each load of fruit we ship, to ensure the safety and security of the supply chain.
Ethical Sourcing: Our Policy
Atlantic Blueberry Company strictly prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of the individual's race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran's status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Affirmative action will be taken to ensure that all employment decisions, including but not limited to those involving recruitment, hiring, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, transfer, discipline, and discharge, are free from unlawful discrimination.
Atlantic Blueberry Company will provide reasonable accommodation to otherwise qualified individuals with a disability consistent with the law. What constitutes a reasonable accommodation depends on the circumstances and thus will be addressed by Atlantic Blueberry Company on a case-by-case basis.
Furthermore, Atlantic Blueberry Company refuses to do business with any company who does not hold these same standards in high esteem.
Sustainability
As stewards of over 750 acres, we are committed to sustainable agricultural practices that protect our land for future generations. Our comprehensive sustainability program includes:
- Municipal clean foliage and wood recycling programs with on-site mulching equipment
- In-house nursery propagation from existing plant cuttings
- Strategic re-planting programs to maintain crop health
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods instead of calendar spray programs
- Grass filter strips to prevent crop protection material runoff
- Drip irrigation systems to maximize water efficiency
- Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP) compliance
- Internal and third-party auditing programs
- Comprehensive cardboard and packaging material recycling
- Continuous investment in efficient packaging equipment
We acknowledge the role we play in the prosperity and well-being of our future generations and remain committed to responsible farming operations.
