D.S. Cole Growers is first MPS-GAP certified North American grower

D.S. Cole Growers in Loudon, N.H., is the first North American company to be MPS-GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certified. This certification is based upon the criteria formulated by supermarket organizations, which require high quality products that have been cultivated in a sustainable manner. Traceability is also part of the certification scheme. Moreover, MPS-GAP has been benchmarked with the GlobalGAP flowers and plants scheme.
“Most of the requirements of MPS-GAP are satisfied by the fact that in the U.S., we conduct business via modern and regulated procedures which ensure quality working conditions for our staff,” said owner Doug Cole. “What makes the certificate worthwhile is that many of us in the agricultural industry don't always go the extra mile on some of these steps. For example, for MPS-GAP we created an emergency evacuation plan, improved our first aid and CPR training and updated our pesticide storage facility. These examples not only made our facility safer for all of our associates, it will better cover us in case of frivolous lawsuits. We feel that the improvements made for MPS-GAP demonstrate our commitment to our associates and our customers and are good measures to take to reduce liability and increase customer satisfaction.”
MPS-GAP certification scheme includes requirements, amongst others, relating to land/plot use, substrate, parental material, waste, safety/health/hygiene, storage locations, maintenance of equipment and resources, application/use and stock of crop protection agents, etc. D.S. Cole Growers was also the first North American grower to receive MPS-ABC certification.

Pictured: Doug Cole, owner of D.S. Cole Growers, recently received MPS-GAP certification for his company, the first in North America.
Photo courtesy of D.S. Cole Growers