Fresh, wholesome produce has continued its mainstay appeal to consumers looking for healthy, minimally processed foods that are responsibly sourced. One recent study indicates a nearly $8 billion growth in sales of fresh produce from 2019 to 2021, even in light of the global pandemic.1 While the produce industry continues to innovate and modernize, the challenges of the fresh produce industry in food safety is maintaining consumer confidence in our food safety programs and processes from seed to feed. At Fresh Del Monte, we are continuously evaluating and monitoring our food safety programs to ensure that the highest level of food safety is met each and every day.
The uniqueness of produce in the food and beverage industry is the lack of a killstep that is a 5-log or greater reduction in pathogens. Fresh Del Monte is able to maintain "fresh from the fields" for all of our products, through rigorous management and monitoring of key food safety metrics, as well as ongoing and continuous monitoring of food safety culture and food safety readiness. At the same time, we work to ensure a safe and reliable supply chain from our growers to our end customers and consumers.