After registering with Freshcare and completing training, the following costs to consider for achieving and maintaining certification are:

Program Implementation and Management - costs to be considered here include staff training; testing required for compliance purposes (e.g. produce, soil, water testing); time and resources required for program maintenance and system reviews.

Cost of audit - to achieve certification, third-party audits are required. The cost of the audit will vary per business depending on the size of the operation and number of sites, travel charges and the standard(s) being audited. Businesses should source quotes for their annual audit from several Freshcare Certification Bodies to ensure they are getting the best rate available for their business.

Freshcare Participation Fee – this is a fee captured at audit by the certification body and remitted to Freshcare. As a not-for-profit industry organisation, Freshcare participation fees fund the operation of all Freshcare programs. Freshcare Participation Fees are collected by the Certification Body on behalf of Freshcare at the time a business is audited. Refer to the Freshcare Fee Structure for details.

For most businesses, it takes 3 – 6 months to undertake training, implement practices, establish records and achieve initial certification. Freshcare does not put a time frame on achieving initial certification, rather participants are advised to progress to audit once the program is fully implemented within their business. Maintaining Certification to Freshcare requires ongoing program management, review and maintaining the required third-party audit cycles as set out in the Standard.

Food Safety & Quality - On-farm (for Growers and Growers/Packers)

• One-on-one
• Group
• eLearning

Approved Trainers can deliver, face-to-face or online training for the Freshcare Food Safety & Quality Standard. To access trainer contact details, visit: www.freshcare.com.au/search-directory/training

Freshcare eLearning provides a mechanism for training to be undertaken online and at a pace set by the trainee. For more information visit www.freshcare.com.au/elearning 

Food Safety & Quality - Supply Chain (for Supply Chain businesses)

• eLearning

Freshcare eLearning provides a mechanism for training to be undertaken online and at a pace set by the trainee. For more information visit www.freshcare.com.au/elearning 

Environmental (for Horticulture) and Sustainability (for Wine Industry)

• One-on-one
• Group

Approved Trainers can deliver, face-to-face or online training for the Freshcare Environmental Standard and Freshcare Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice ( viticulture and winery). To access trainer contact details, visit: www.freshcare.com.au/search-directory/training

Yes. It is a requirement that all new participating businesses complete a Freshcare training course in the specific Program or Standard you are looking to implement. Freshcare training ensures consistency in the delivery of the requirements of the Standard, and how to best establish the program in the daily operations and activities of your business.

When implementing the Freshcare program you will likely find you are already keeping many of the records required as a part of running your business. Freshcare training helps new businesses identify the risk areas that need to be managed when implementing the Freshcare Standards. There may be some physical changes to be made and additional records to be kept although these will be covered at training to ensure you address them in the most practical way for your specific business requirements.

Freshcare certification is a voluntary pathway for businesses to demonstrate and verify their credentials to customers across local and international markets; government stakeholders and regulatory bodies; financial and insurance institutions.

Local Markets – Freshcare certification is recognised in all Australian domestic market supply chains. Freshcare food safety and quality certification is accepted by all major retail chains and approved by HARPS.

International Markets – Global relationship-building ensures Freshcare certification is recognised and accepted in international markets. Benchmarking of the Freshcare food safety and quality program to the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), ensures that our most widely used standard in Australia is accepted in all global markets.

Government – Freshcare certification can also demonstrate compliance with legislative requirements. Freshcare promotes the adoption of the standards by the fresh produce and wine industries with government bodies, as evidence of underpinning assurance for best practice. Accreditation of the Freshcare Environmental program by the Queensland Government for commercial banana cultivation in the Great Barrier Reef Catchment, demonstrates aligned and recognised pathways with legislation.

Others – Freshcare certification is used to demonstrate good business practice and therefore is often used to support business partnerships, applications to financial lenders, insurance companies, and institutions.

Freshcare is the custodian of the assurance standards for the Australian fresh produce and wine industry.

Freshcare manages the development, review, accreditation, benchmarking, stakeholder engagement, market awareness, extension and adoption of the standards, and supporting resources.