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Grand Forks Herald
The pilot project for MinnCERT involves Minnesota Certified Pork (MNCEP) as
the farmer cooperative participating in the pilot project. Other
participants include Swift and Company, Supervalu, and Kowalski's. The
long-term goal is to have the certification process available to any group
that develops and implements a set of standard operating and internal
auditing procedures.
Why is this important?
Consumers worldwide are showing an increasing interest in how their food is
raised. For example, food borne illness -while rare- often have their
origin prior to processing. Whereas traditional food safety regulation and
inspection begins with meat processors, a new approach was needed that
starts at the very beginning of the food chain.
Traditionally, agriculture provides a bulk commodity with no product
differentiation or ability to trace the product back to the producer. It
assumes one market for food products. In reality, today's consumers
represent a broad spectrum of market segments ranging from the
environmentally focused, health-conscious marathon runner to the steak
house connoisseur, all of whom expect safe food products.
To satisfy ever changing market demands, it is necessary to develop
mechanisms to certify claims regarding production procedures.
Large-scale farms can readily implement quality management systems
responding to market demands. Achieving this level of standardization is
more difficult for small-scale operations. The MinnCERT program will
provide third-party certification of quality management practices on farms.
Frequently Asked Questions about Minnesota Certified Pork (MNCEP)
Who is Minnesota Certified Pork?
Minnesota Certified Pork (MNCEP) is a new-generation cooperative of
independent pork producers. MNCEP, through standardized, audited, and
third party certified on-farm procedures, provides pork products to various
market segments guaranteeing:
What are Minnesota Certified Pork's Standards?
MNCEP provides the highest production standards in the pork industry.
These standards, which are outlined in detail in MNCEP's quality handbook,
are audited and certified according to the principles of ISO 9000, which
can be described as follows: "Say what you do! Do what you say! And have
a third party certify that you did!"
A third party certifier will assure MNCEP customers of:
How is Third-Party Certification Accomplished?
MNCEP is part of the pilot project for the Minnesota Certified (MinnCERT)
program developed by the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota
Department of Agriculture. MNCEP is the first group of food producers in
the U.S. to use such a certification program. The procedures, certified by
MinnCERT, assure meat companies, retailers and consumers that MNCEP pork
producers are serious about consistency and safety.
How to Contact MNCEP?
Dave Starner, President
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