Below are some other stories and positive comments we have received since the programme began in 1999.
"When we went looking for new markets overseas we found being an Approved Supplier opened doors for us. In Australia the supermarket owners were aware of the programme and knew it meant we had reached a certain level that was acceptable to them. We now supply a chain of 80 fruit retailers in New South Wales with stone fruit.
Similarly when we met with a wholesaler from Milan about supplying apples to Italy, he was very happy with our Approved Supplier accreditation - in particular because it includes independent audits. We are now sending apples over there. I think the Approved Supplier Programme works all round for everyone."
Andy Parkinson, Willow Glen Orchards.
"Although our growers initially had reservations about becoming accredited as Approved Suppliers, they now appreciate that it does in fact position them well for the future as the demands and expectations of consumers increase in terms of quality practices. The programme contributes to lifting standards and awareness of quality assurance issues across the industry. Our customers can buy with confidence."
Jeff Turner, Chairman, Fresh Direct
"It has forced disciplines such as traceability, good records and logging in and out of produce which in turn has made us more efficient. Certification has been accepted by our large buyers such as Coles Australia, major supermarket chains and food service clients and the programme has been used to implement other programmes such as our Truss export to Australia. It has also helped with our staff training programme."
Jim Guthrie, Status Produce
"The Approved Supplier Programme has provided our company with credibility which cannot be matched by our international competition within the domestic market. Discerning consumers are concerned about feel-good features as much as price and the Approved Supplier Programme allows our company to actively market the aesthetic features of our product. There is profit in marketing our New Zealand-ness and the Approved Supplier Programme provides us with the mechanism to inform our customers about who grew the garlic, where and how it was grown. This is an implicit guarantee of food safety."
Pat Murphy, Marketing Manager, NZ Garlic Ltd
"The key benefits of the Approved Supplier Programme for Delta Produce Co-operative have been the ability to become the exclusive kumara supplier to the three Foodstuffs groups in New Zealand. The confidence in our company's standards and systems by our customers ensures an uninterrupted business flow.
As our company is focusing increasingly on export markets, the fact that we are an Approved Supplier in our local market gains us immediate credibility with potential export customers. We strongly recommend this programme to all suppliers."
David Jones, General Manager, Delta Produce Co-operative, Dargaville
"It's the most recognised compliance system in New Zealand for local growers supplying the domestic market."
Matt Dolan, Quality Assurance Manager, Turners & Growers
"It really is a bible for business management. It's as if someone has developed a manual for you for the running of your company, and as long as you comply with the requirements you'd have to do something very wrong to be in breach of the law in critical areas such as OSH and agri-chemical use. Being accredited means we can provide assurances to our customers that we have followed correct procedures in terms of growing, handling and storing our product in a safe and sustainable way."
Bernie Kay, flower grower, B&P Kay Ltd
"The Approved Supplier Programme has been instrumental in ensuring our customers throughout the world have confidence in the product they receive. As part of our own Food Safety and Quality programme, Le Fresh insists that our suppliers are on an audited food safety and quality programme. The majority of suppliers who deal with Le Fresh are accredited through the Approved Supplier Programme.
The news that the Approved Supplier Programme has been benchmarked against EUREPGAP is fantastic and it shows our customers that the New Zealand product is as well looked after as any other product in the world. With increasing emphasis of retailers on food safety and traceability the Approved Supplier Programme is worth its weight in gold for us. We have even found that we can use the programme as the foundation for other systems that we are certified and audited for. Moving forward it is important that we have the ability to link various customer requirements through a common system."
Ingrid Hofma, Managing Director, Le Fresh International, Christchurch