BC producers and processors work hard to meet safe food supply standards and achieve food safety certifications. However, costly equipment upgrades often present a significant barrier to achieving certifications and accessing new markets. Through the Food Safety Program (FSP), businesses can access cost-shared funding to upgrade their infrastructure in line with recommendations from their food safety assessment, helping them meet these crucial standards.
Brianna van de Wijngaard has owned and operated Puddle Produce, a 1.5 acre certified organic farm near Williams Lake, since 2013. The farm specializes in a variety of crops including salad mixes, root crops, and microgreens, while also cultivating a diverse selection of other produce. In recent years they completed a food safety assessment (gap-assessment) which identified infrastructure upgrades that would benefit the operation. In 2024, IAF worked with Puddle Produce to secure cost-shared funding from FSP to upgrade their produce washing facility.
The farm’s certified organic washing and packing process was initially carried out in a converted barn space. While functional, the space was not specifically built for vegetable production, and as the farm’s operations expanded, it became clear an upgrade was needed. With the support of FSP funding, Puddle Produce was able to purchase new stainless-steel tables and truck dollies and install a new concrete floor with a trench drain. These upgrades allowed the farm to move all their produce washing operations indoors, as the stainless-steel worktops and central floor drain make for easy clean up.
“With the Food Safety Program funding, we’ve been able to mitigate some of the food safety challenges that come from using a space that is not purpose-built for vegetable production, and make it safer, cleaner, and a more efficient space to work in and clean.” says Briana, “These improvements will have a huge impact on our efficiency and food safety, as we spend 50% of our labour in our wash and pack stations from early June through October.”
With these upgrades, Puddle Produce has significantly improved both operational efficiency and food safety standards. The enhancements not only make the farm’s operations safer but also position them for continued growth as an on-farm business.
Learn more about Puddle Produce: https://www.puddleproduce.ca/
Funding for the Food Safety Program is provided by provided by the Governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
