News

Truitt Bros. manufacturing plant earns Food Alliance certification

October 5, 2009

Truitt Bros. Inc., a shelf-stable, custom food manufacturer, has announced that it has received third-party certification for its Oregon-based Special Products processing plant from Food Alliance, a national eco-labeling program that certifies environmentally sound and socially responsible food producers.

Truitt's Special Products Division uses food science and state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and packaging to create a variety of custom, shelf-stable meals, side dishes, sauces and soups for foodservice customers nationwide.

The certification is the Salem, Ore.-based food producer's second from Food Alliance. Three years prior, Truitt Bros. received the designation for its cannery operations, highlighting the company's ongoing commitment to sustainable food processing practices.

Food Alliance certification utilizes a systems approach to food production, examining how practices on the farm and at the processor help reduce negative environmental impacts and contribute to safe and fair working conditions. Through this certification, Truitt Bros. aims to reward the growers they work with for sustainable farming practices while earning more value for their products.

"Being awarded the Food Alliance certification continues our focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability, which we are very proud of," Peter Truitt, president and co-founder of Truitt Bros., said in a news release. "Our motivation for pursuing Food Alliance certification, however, is not just a feel-good story. We are finding that there is a tremendous amount of demand for sustainably produced food in the foodservice sector and that an independent third-party audit and certification authenticates and legitimizes practices more compellingly than self proclamation."