Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is at the heart of each process and each relationship that supports the arrival of a Mekostar product on your table.
We begin by setting clear standards for our products. These standards apply to the condition of the fresh produce when it reaches our packhouses (size, color, ripeness, etc.), the temperature at which the products are stored and transported, and also to the agricultural practices that the farmers use to grow Mekostar fruits and vegetables. At the grower level our standards seek to maximize the control of fertilizer usage, especially nitrates and microorganisms; to strictly comply with chemical usage regulations and pre- harvest intervals that ensure the safety of fruits and vegetables; and to ensure that water, resources, and soil are qualified to produce safe vegetables.
Before a farmer can become a Mekostar farmer, the agronomist and quality assurance team audit the farm and undertake a risk assessment. The location of the land, soil type, land ownership, used water sources, growing history, farmer knowledge, motivation and many other selection criteria are used to select only the best farmers. When the farmer passes this initial audit, complies with identified corrective actions, successfully completes the training program, maintains farm records for at least three months, and passes all lab tests of his or her products , he/she can become a Mekostar farmer.
