Quality Assurance, Temperature Control, & Satisfaction Guarantee
Important notes about Quality Assurance
It was universally stated by all the buyers interviewed, that they expect the farm vendor to "stand good for the product". What is meant by “stand good for the product”? Is it a 100% quality assurance guarantee upon delivery? In general, quality assurance means the product meets the company specifications, complies with the appropriate USDA grading and standards, and is of good quality and condition.
Important notes about Temperature Control
Temperature control varies by product and customer type when selling from the farm to the restaurant. You may be able to take chives in a cooler directly from your farm to the local country club—but that method may not meet an institution’s requirements (or generally accepted food safety practices) for purchasing ground beef. Maintaining the cold chain (a temperature-controlled supply chain) is crucial to delivering a quality product that will maintain product freshness and shelf life.
Important notes about Satisfaction Guarantee
In marketing directly to restaurants, you’ll be competing with wholesalers that regularly make adjustments and credits when product quality was down. Guaranteeing the satisfaction of your product is critical to developing your farm’s relationship with a chef. Wholesalers often expected the farm vendor to stand by their products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. All of the firms maintain the right to refuse a product if it does not meet their quality standards.
Have you heard about the Produce Safety Rule?
The Produce Safety Rule or FSMA establishes mandatory science-based, minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. These standards are designed to work effectively for food safety across the wide diversity of produce farms.
Here are some resources about FSMA to help you understand whether you are or are not exempt from this ruling:
MarketReady's Best Practices for success
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Discuss cold chain requirements with buyers
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Educate yourself about safe food handling practices
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Have the necessary documents for USDA and local health inspectors
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Attend Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) / Produce Best Practices (PBP) Training