The USDA is a government entity that protects citizens by supervising food, agriculture, natural resources and public policy. They regulate the food that we eat by overseeing production of meat and dairy products and supporting agriculture. Considered to be a consumer advocate, the USDA has been looking out for Americans to ensure we can safely consume food and stay healthy. 

Richland Hills Farms and Sunset Orchard have been properly vetted by the USDA. We are growers committed to the nutritional value that our sliced apples can provide to students in Wisconsin. To become a vendor for the USDA Pilot, the USDA provides a set of qualifications. 

First, a vendor must supply a Domestic Origin Certification Form because all items in the Pilot Project must be of domestic origin. They also review the suppliers and subcontractors to make sure every contributor has a Food Safety Audit Certification. A Food Safety Audit Certification is obtained after an audit for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), and Food Defense.

Additionally, a Food Safety Plan must be maintained for fruit growers like Richland Hills Farms who slice their products. The Food Safety Plan includes verification plans for testing for Listeria, Salmonella, and other bacteria. The finished product must also be verified through microbiological testing. The testing should include detection of Total Aerobic Plate Count (TPC) and E.coli.

The USDA designates processed food as food that has undergone a change of character. A really good example of this is that a raw nut would be considered unprocessed and a roasted version of the same nut would be considered processed. With that same logic, one would consider a whole apple to be unprocessed and a sliced apple to be processed. So, why are Richland Hills Farms sliced apples part of the USDA Pilot?

Well, that’s because our process is very minimal. We slice the apples and treat them with an organic preservative that passes the USDA’s high standards for fruits that are minimally processed. To the USDA, foods that are only slightly altered for preservation without substantially changing the nutritional content are minimally processed. There are other brands that process their apples with chemicals and you can definitely taste the difference. 

There are many other processed foods that are still considered nutritious such as tofu or pre-washed spinach. Those types of foods, while still appropriate for a healthy diet, are not included in the Pilot Project. The FFVP is primarily focused on providing minimally processed or unprocessed fruits and vegetables.

School programs such as this are meant to combat the growing epidemic of poor nutrition among children. Richland Hills Farms is proud to be a part of this innovative project that has yielded very successful results. Data is still being gathered but preliminary study indicates increased fruit consumption by participating schools. 

Student’s attitude towards and knowledge of the benefits of fruits and vegetables also improved. Kids reported back as saying it was important to have fruit at breakfast. They also learned that fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins we need to be healthy and strong. By contributing to that kind of healthy behavior, it is Richland Hills Farms honor to serve the schools of Wisconsin.

To learn more about the Pilot Project for Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits and Vegetables and how your school or school food authority can get involved, please contact your State Agency Contacts (pdf).