WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif -- In becoming the fifth produce company to receive U.S. Department of Agriculture food safety certification, Club Fresh as taken a big step in its goal of being a food safety leader, representative of the fresh-cut processor say.

Ken Catchot, president of Club Fresh, said he considers certification under the USDA's Qualified Through Verification Program vital in keeping the company on the cutting edge of food safety and in earning consumer trust.

Formed in 1994 as a spinoff of JC Produce, Inc., Club Fresh produces value-added products for retail store chains and restaurants in California. The company has the same owners as JC Produce, but it operates separately.

Club Fresh planned to display the USDA certification seal on its products by the end of January, said Micahel Marks, the company's director of marketing. A team of USDA officials approved the Club Fresh plant Jan. 14th.

"This sets us apart in our industry. ...We are taking every step known to limit food safety risks. We do a better job than consumers can do right in their own kitchen," Catcho said.

The certification process took a little more than a year to complete, Marks said. The process includes an initial audit and on-site inspections. During the final inspection, plant crew members are interviewed on food safety procedures.

In analyzing potential food safety hazards, Club Fresh looked at every step of production, from receiving product at the right temperatures to storage, cleaning, cutting, washing, packaging and shipping at the right temperatures.

"We even check the temperatures of the trucks delivering our products," Catchot said.

Computers help maintain temperature, chlorine and pH levels in water at Club Fresh. To further ensure safety, managers and supervisors at Club Fresh are trained and certified in the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point initiative.

Club Fresh products are sold in Bel-Air stores, Lucky stores, Raley's Supermarkets, Safeway stores and the Vons Cos. Inc. stores. They are also shipped to nearby school districts and to hospitals in northern California.

The retail line primarily consists of meal kits like a beef stew mix and grilled vegetable pack. Club fresh ships fresh-cut salads and vegetables to restaurants and schools.

The extra effort for safety is welcomed by Bob Simpson, marketing and merchandising director for Bel-Air stores in the Sacramento area. "Knowing that Club Fresh is a USDA-approved facility fits our program for food safety," he said.

The other certified companies are Handi-Pak Foods Inc., Kankakee, Ill, Gimmway Farms, Bakersfield, Calif., Babe Farms Inc., Santa Maria, Calif., and Tanimura & Antle Inc., Salina, Calif.