JBT has announced that its Research and Technology Center in Riverside, California has received the Safe Quality Food (SQF) Institute’s Food Processing Aids Manufacturing and Manufacture of Food Packaging certification and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)’s 9001:2015 certification.
JBT’s Research and Technology Center in Riverside is committed to conducting thorough research using sound protocol development, scientific methodology, and statistical analysis of results. One crucial step in the product development process involves a hands-on scale-up process to confirm that laboratory observations can be applied in real-world production and industry settings. As a result, this facility provides dependable products and services to the fresh produce industry.
“Quality management is at the forefront of everything we do. We’re proud to have the Riverside Research and Technology Center achieve over six years of continued SQF certification and now be recognized with ISO certification to provide validation of that effort,” said Christina Campos, JBT’s General Manager for Fresh Produce Technologies (FPT). “We are honored to work with such a hard-working team that is focused on giving our customers the highest quality products and services every day. These certifications speak to the standards and dedication with which our facility functions.”
The SQF Program is a leading, global food safety and quality certification and management system that is known for its globally benchmarked food safety and quality program. The Riverside facility received SQF Certification by achieving an Excellent audit rating, assuring their products meet the highest possible global food safety standards.
This site-based certification focuses on the Research and Technology Center’s Post-Harvest Coating Waxes and Produce Identification Labels, excluding equipment and after-market parts. This results in JBT’s Fresh Produce Technologies providing cutting-edge labels, coatings, cleaners, and decay control products that enhance appearance, improve arrivals, and minimize loss during produce transport.
The ISO 9001:2015 standard centers around quality management systems and their effectiveness. Originally introduced in 1987 and revised in 2015, this standard provides guidance to organizations on how to establish a risk management system. A useful tool to add credibility, ISO certification demonstrates that products and services meet the expectations of customers via fundamental concepts and principles which are universally applicable. As a result, organizations can enhance their communication, operational efficiency, customer focus, and employee engagement.