In the picturesque town of Chillon, known worldwide for its premium Chelan apples, food safety is not just a requirement—it’s a legacy. At Chelan Fruit, ensuring the highest standards of quality has been a cornerstone of the brand. Robert Peebles, Director of Food Safety, knew that staying ahead of industry changes was critical to maintaining their reputation. However, an industry-wide shift in cleaning and sanitation practices, spurred by recalls from other producers, posed a significant challenge. It was clear that a trusted partner was needed to elevate their food safety game. Enter Birko.
Eighteen months ago, the fresh produce industry faced a reckoning: outdated cleaning and sanitation methods could no longer meet rigorous new safety requirements. For Chelan Fruit, this meant reassessing long-standing practices and addressing potential vulnerabilities in their processes. They needed expert guidance to transform their sanitation program while navigating an increasingly complex regulatory environment. The stakes were high: the safety of their products and their reputation were on the line.
Birko, with its unparalleled expertise and commitment to food safety, became Chelan Fruit’s go-to partner. Their collaboration began with a comprehensive sanitation assessment led by Miles Murphy, Birko’s Technical Assistant. Miles’ deep understanding of the industry and hands-on approach made a lasting impression.
Through regular monthly evaluations, Birko identified key opportunities for improvement, introducing advanced cleaning agents and tailored processes to enhance Chelan Fruit’s sanitation protocols. This partnership also expanded Chelan Fruit’s toolkit, replacing a limited product range with a diverse arsenal of specialized solutions to tackle various sanitation challenges.
The results of this partnership were transformative. With Birko’s guidance, Chelan Fruit not only met but exceeded modern sanitation standards. Their food safety program evolved into a model of industry best practices, supported by cutting-edge chemical solutions and expert insights.
The collaboration brought peace of mind to the Chelan Fruit team, knowing that a trusted partner was continuously monitoring and optimizing their processes. This renewed focus on sanitation helped Chelan Fruit maintain its reputation as a premium brand while positioning them as leaders in food safety.
This story isn’t unique to Chelan Fruit. At Garden Cut, another Birko partner, food safety improvements have led to seamless operations in both processing and distribution. The service, expertise, and innovative solutions Birko brings to the table consistently exceed expectations.
For Chelan Fruit and other industry leaders, partnering with Birko has been a game-changer. Their dedication to food safety, innovative products, and exceptional customer service set them apart. Whether it's elevating cleaning protocols or providing reliable third-party assessments, Birko proves to be the ultimate ally in building safer, stronger food safety programs.
Let Birko take your food safety journey to the next level. The results speak for themselves.
"Birko provides us with the right food safety chemistry for our plant, especially in regard to strength and the ability to break down our starch residuals. The knowledge base of the Birko staff was very helpful in setting up our processes. They made multiple plant visits and audited our sanitation group to assure maximum food safety effectiveness.”
Kathryn Nixa, Manager of Quality Assurance Moody Dunbar Foods Corp., Dunn, North Carolina
"Birko understands the fundamentals needed for a produce plant’s food safety program, including HACCP compliance and third party audits. Their service and reliability is matched by technical expertise and trained personnel. Birko has the know-how to follow up and follow through on your processing and sanitation needs.”
Barbara A. Hulick, Former Director of Food Safety Country Fresh, LLC, Houston, Texas
"What I really liked about Birko’s approach was that they were focused on helping us develop a sanitation program on the front end. Other companies that we looked at were more interested in selling chemicals, and only offered to help with our sanitation program as an afterthought.”
Andrew Duron, Food Safety Manager Rasch Brothers Apple Storage, Grand Rapids, Michigan