True Leaf Farms, the Salinas, Calif.-based processing affiliate for fresh cut produce under Church Brothers, took the next step in their food safety program by expanding their use of SmartWash Solutions on all wash lines.

After trialing various wash line competitors to challenge and enhance their current food safety program, True Leaf Farms found the sophisticated system they were looking for with SmartWash Solutions, which heightens their process control and alleviates challenges of the fresh cut process.

“Since True Leaf Farms was in the process of evaluating their wash systems, it was the perfect opportunity for us to introduce SmartWash Solutions and compare head to head with competitors,” says Steven Swarts, director of business development for SmartWash Solutions, Salinas, Calif. “When you’re in the fresh cut industry, you’re frequently faced with challenges such as high organic loads and diverse product cuts. Given that our system is built to handle those issues with a high degree of process control, they felt that SmartWash was the best option for supplying a safer food system.”

True Leaf invested in SmartWash Solutions’ full line of products for both conventional and organic produce wash lines. SmartWash’s Process Pro Data Live is used to efficiently track wash lines in real time, while the Pinpoint Calibration System calibrates and verifies chlorine sensors. True Leaf also deployed a handful of SmartWash Solutions’ Automated SmartWash Analytical Platform (ASAP) units, which accurately monitor and control wash water chemistry.

“Converting all of our systems was a large implementation. SmartWash has a very knowledgeable support team who smoothly guided the transition,” says Vince Brigantino, president at True Leaf Farms. “They are an excellent partner, and have been there every time we’ve needed them.”

“We chose SmartWash for three reasons,” adds Drew McDonald, vice president of quality and food safety for Church Brothers Farms and True Leaf Farms. “First, we have spent significant resources developing our state-of-the-art wash systems, and we want to make sure we are operating at the highest level of food safety control. Second, SmartWash Solutions’ performance validation conducted by USDA-ARS as well as the on-site work conducted in our facility meets and exceeds FSMA expectations. And lastly, the reporting and overall technology of the system has no equal.”

By collaborating with True Leaf Farms, SmartWash Solutions continues to add value to the food processing trade.

“Through this partnership, we’re both helping each other,” says Swarts. “Getting True Leaf Farms on board not only helps us continue to build a client base representing a very large volume of the fresh cut industry, [but it also] helps them to continue to improve their food safety systems to ultimately process and deliver products to end users in a safer way.”