Red Tractor secures key fresh produce benefit with renewed GLOBALG.A.P. benchmarking

Fresh produce growers can reap a top benefit of their Red Tractor membership, following the leading UK food assurance scheme’s successful refresh of its benchmarking with GLOBALG.A.P. – the world’s most widely implemented farm assurance certification.

For the past three years, Red Tractor Fresh Produce scheme membership has provided the valuable option to gain a GLOBALG.A.P. certificate without the need for extra assessments. While Red Tractor certification remains the prime route to UK markets, this streamlined solution is a bonus for growers wishing to export their produce.

Gaining a GLOBALG.A.P. certificate through Red Tractor membership unlocks global market opportunities for any fresh produce business, through the simplified access to this internationally renowned assurance status. Hundreds of Red Tractor fresh produce scheme members already take advantage of this major benefit.

Jim Moseley, Red Tractor chief executive, said: “This refreshed benchmarking has secured one of the many important benefits to being a Red Tractor assured. It affords producers the attractive option of a simplified route to the global marketplace for fresh produce, without the need for additional assessments to gain the necessary certification for export.”

Alongside the introduction of Red Tractor’s revised standards in November, the team has worked hard to refresh its benchmarking against GLOBALG.A.P. Fruit & Vegetables version 5.2.

In completing this benchmarking work, the Red Tractor team has ensured that farm assurance designed for UK producers will continue to be translated into global market access.

Extra opportunities

Red Tractor fresh produce members can also use this benchmarking to access certain GLOBALG.A.P. modular add-ons, which some customers may require.

The scheme has extended benchmarking for hops growers. This new option opens up the chance to access GLOBALG.A.P. Hops sub-scope certification by completing a module. This certification is increasingly seen as a condition of supply by brewers in the US and elsewhere.

For more information, visit the Red Tractor Assurance website or contact the team by emailing memberhelp@redtractor.org.uk.