Tom is one of our 1,400 employees who ensure food safety for people, animals and plants every day. "We have a well-filled schedule with a highly varied number of tasks each time, such as certifying vegetables, fruits and ornamental plants for export, taking samples in public green spaces, at production companies or at wholesale fruit and vegetable stores. We work to a sophisticated schedule, but every morning I know that something can happen that could interfere with this schedule. No two days are the same." Tom does it all with equal conviction and commitment. "Thanks to my work, I help ensure food safety. That gives me great satisfaction."
Today, Tom takes us to an inspection of a Limburg fruit farm. Ludo and Annick's farm consists of 22 acres of apple and pear trees. Tom expects few problems because the company has an approved self-checking system. That means keeping meticulous records of everything they undertake, all the resources they use, the trees they plant, the fruit they grow, etc., in a register. Annually, at their own expense, they invite an auditor to review and validate their checking system. Companies doing self-checking are less likely to be inspected by the FASFC. After all, they are committed to adhering to the food safety regulations in force, following the precautionary and safety measures in place very precisely and in a controlled manner.
Along with Annick and Ludo, we walk around the yard, through the sheds, and inspect the kitchen where seasonal workers eat during harvest. Nothing escapes Tom's watchful eye. He checks that there is no glass damage on the tractors, that the sanitary facilities and furniture are clean, that the right resources are in the right place, etc.
We arrive at the room where plant protection products and fertilisers are stored. These products are not without danger and should therefore be handled with great care. Tom checks all the products and verifies that these products are still recognised and being used correctly on the farm. Meanwhile, Annick and Ludo talk endlessly about the hard but beautiful work in the orchards. Most of all, they keep themselves busy pruning the trees. I learn more about diseases that make a pear's skin flaky, about how to grow new varieties, about certain pear varieties that can still form a beautiful pear despite frost damage. This is where the passion comes in. Next to me are two people who live for their work.
Vervolgens trekken we naar de loods waar de spuittoestellen staan. Dat zijn een soort van aanhangwagens waarmee de sproeistoffen over de bomen en velden worden gespoten. Tom kijkt de toestellen na en checkt of ze gekeurd zijn. Dit is nodig om er zeker van te zijn dat te toestellen efficiënt en veilig werken.
Before checking out the fruit trees, we walk past the house-high, ultra-low oxygen fridges, or ULOs for short. Apples and pears stored around freezing point, in a room with little oxygen and slightly more nitrogen, stay fresh for months. Although the new harvest is just around the corner, several tons of apples are still hibernating deeply here. Next to the fridges, some fruit crates are neatly stacked.
After the tour outside and in the sheds, we continue the inspection inside for the administrative section. Annick and Ludo take us to the farmhouse kitchen. There, the administration folders are neatly displayed side by side. Tom checks the paperwork. "Can I see the purchase receipts for the trees you've purchased? And can I see the spraying schedule showing when and at what dose you used which crop protection products?" Whatever information Tom requests, Annick finds the documents immediately.
Such an inspection report is very important for a company. If the inspection checklist receives the final entry 'unfavourable', then a re-inspection must take place, which again costs time and resources. If, after the second inspection, it is found that the company still does not meet the safety requirements, some additional sanctions may be imposed. If the situation is serious and there is an immediate risk to public health, a decision may even be made to close the company. Once Tom finishes filling out the checklist, he goes over it with Annick and Ludo. Once everyone is in agreement, Tom prints out the mission report and has Annick and Ludo sign it.