Quality assurance
Our quality commitment and initiatives
Costa never compromises on the safety and quality of our produce. We see quality assurance and quality control as among our most important roles in providing industry leadership.
These initiatives stem from the real people who work with us day to day. We understand the challenges facing growers and marketers, and see where the opportunities for improvement and ingenuity lie.
Post harvest review
Our number one priority is providing our consumers with legal and safe produce of the highest quality. Post harvest review is a particular area of focus for Costa as it allows us to make significant improvements on quality processes, ensuring optimum storage, ripening, supply and shelf life for all products.
This means researching everything we grow or market and considering the uniqueness and post harvest trajectory of each fruit or vegetable.
Our depth of knowledge and research on time and temperature analysis is unique and of enormous value to everyone we work with. It is also an important tool in reducing the incidence of food waste.
Quality control system — 'Greenlight QC' 
Australian growers are hardworking, dedicated professionals who strive to provide the best possible produce. Having control over what happens once the produce leaves their premises is vital to an efficient and successful supply chain.
Costa recognised that a quality control system designed specifically for farmers would benefit everyone, from growers to consumers. So we adapted the Greenlight QC initiative to heighten the visibility of stock entering our distribution centres.
We record temperature on arrival, weight, general appearance criteria like shape and colour and presence of defects. We then analyse this information to track trends and provide growers with invaluable information, which they can use to improve quality.
Quality Assurance System
Costa’s National Quality Management System (QMS) is being implemented across every one of our sites. This means every business unit and Costa site is aware of, and adheres to, strict Food Safety and Quality Assurance standards based on industry QA standards including:
- SQF Code
- Global G.A.P
- Freshcare food safety and quality code of practice
- HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) & GMP certification criteria
- Harmonised Australian Retailer Produce Scheme (HARPS)
- Woolworths Quality Assurance (WQA)
- Woolworths Supplier Excellence Program
- Coles Supermarkets Supplier Approval Program
The Costa QMS is updated regularly to incorporate industry changes and ongoing best practice.
Avocado
Costa Avocado-Childers-HARPS Certificate
Costa Avocado-Childers-Freshcare Certificate
Costa Avocado-Kumbia-Freshcare Certificate
North Fresh-Ravenhall-HARPS Certificate
North Fresh-Ravenhall-HACCP Certificate
North Fresh-Ravenhall-SQF Certificate
Avocado Estate-Tolga-HARPS Certificate
Avocado Estate-Tolga-Freshcare Certificate
Fresh Exchange-Tully-HACCP Certificate
Bananas
Banana Exchange-Tully-HARPS Certificate
Banana Exchange-Tully-SQF Certificate
Banana Exchange-Tully-HACCP Certificate
Banana Exchange-Tully-Freshcare Certificate
Banana Exchange-Tully-Freshcare Certificate-Environment
Banana Exchange-Walkamin-Safe Food Warranty Certificate
Berries
Costa Exchange-Corindi-HARPS Certificate
Costa Exchange-Corindi-HACCP Certificate
Costa Exchange-Corindi-Global G.A.P Certificate
Costa Exchange-Dunorlan-HACCP Certificate
Costa Exchange-East Devonport-Bovil Street-HACCP Certificate
Costa Exchange-East Devonport-Brooke Street-HACCP Certificate
Costa Exchange-Sulphur Creek-HACCP Certificate
Costa Exchange-Tolga-HACCP Certificate
Costa Exchange-Tumbarumba-HACCP Certificate
Costa Exchange-Courabyra-HARPS Certificate
Costa Exchange-Tumbarumba-Freshcare Certificate
Costa Exchange-Rosewood-Freshcare Certificate
Costa Exchange-Wesley Vale-Mill Road-HACCP Certificate
Costa Exchange-Wesley Vale-Wrights Lane-HACCP Certificate
Costa Pty Ltd-Neergabby-BSI Certificate
Citrus
Agri Exchange-Amaroo Farm-HACCP Certificate
Agri Exchange-Amaroo Farm-Global G.A.P Certificate
Agri Exchange-Kangara Farm-HACCP Certificate
Agri Exchange-Kangara Farm-Global G.A.P Certificate
Agri Exchange-Murtho Packhouse-HARPS Certificate
Agri Exchange-Murtho Packhouse-Global G.A.P Certificate
Agri Exchange-Pike Creek Farm-HACCP Certificate
Agri Exchange-Pike Creek Farm-Global G.A.P Certificate
Agri Exchange-Renmark Packhouse-HARPS Certificate
Agri Exchange-Renmark Packhouse-HACCP Certificate
Agri Exchange-Renmark Packhouse-Global G.A.P Certificate
Agri Exchange-Solora Farm-Global G.A.P Certificate
Agri Exchange-Solora Packhouse-HACCP Certificate
Agri Exchange-Solora Packhouse-Global G.A.P Certificate
Agri Exchange-Yandilla Farm-HACCP Certificate
Agri Exchange-Yandilla Farm-Global G.A.P Certificate
Vitor Marketing-Renmark-HARPS Certificate
Vitor Marketing-Renmark-Global G.A.P Certificate
Costa Farms
Costa Farms-Derrimut-SQF Certificate
Costa Farms-Derrimut-HACCP Certificate
Costa Farms-Derrimut-HARPS Certificate
Costa Farms-Epping-HACCP Certificate
Costa Farms-Pooraka-Organic Certificate
Costa Farms-Pooraka-SQF Certificate
Costa Farms-Pooraka-HARPS Certificate
Costa Farms-Rocklea-HACCP Certificate
Costa Farms-Rocklea-HARPS Certificate
Costa Farms-Rocklea-SQF Certificate
Costa Farms-Rocklea-SQFQ Certificate
Logistics
Costa Logistics-Derrimut-HARPS Certificate
Costa Logistics-Derrimut-SQF Certificate
Costa Logistics-Derrimut-HACCP Certificate
Costa Logistics-Devonport-Coles Certificate
Costa Logistics-Devonport-SQF Certificate
Costa Logistics -Eastern Creek-HACCP Certificate
Costa Logistics-Eastern Creek-SQF Certificate
Costa Logistics-Eastern Creek-HARPS Certificate
Costa Logistics-Jandakot-SQF Certificate
Costa Logistics-Jandakot-HARPS Certificate
Mushrooms
Mushroom Exchange-Casuarina-Coles Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Casuarina-Woolworths Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Casuarina-SQF Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Casuarina-HACCP Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Glen Aplin-Coles Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Glen Aplin-Woolworths Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Glen Aplin-SQF Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Mandurah-HACCP Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Mernda-Coles Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Mernda-HACCP Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Mernda-SQF Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Monarto-Coles Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Monarto-Woolworths Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Monarto-SQFCertificate
Mushroom Exchange-Monarto-HACCP Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-North Maclean-HACCP Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-North Maclean-SQF Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-North Maclean-HARPS Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Spreyton HARPS Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Spreyton-SQF Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Yarrambat-SQF Certificate
Mushroom Exchange-Yarrambat-Coles Certificate