Troutlodge certified in the US
Troutlodge achieves GLOBALG.A.P. certification for its trout egg production in the USA. Troutlodge, Inc. (Sumner, WA, USA) recently received certification under the GLOBALG.A.P. aquaculture standard. This program, covering the company’s production of eyed Rainbow trout eggs in the USA, examines all aspects of the company’s operations – including environmental stewardship, animal welfare, traceability, worker health and safety, and community relations. The rigorous standards serve as a practical manual for Good Agricultural Practice (G.A.P.) and are designed to assure consumers of the quality and sustainability of the products they are purchasing.
Troutlodge is the first aquaculture company in North America to achieve this certification. This achievement comes on the heels of the company’s Chilean operations obtaining GlobalGAP certification of their production of eyed Atlantic salmon eggs. All eggs produced by Troutlodge’s operations in Washington State, USA will be certified under this program, as the company believes demand for GLOBALG.A.P.-certified eggs will continue to grow in the coming years.
“This is important for us and for our customers,” says Andrew Barfoot, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Troutlodge. “We began this process at the request of two key customers in Turkey who are certified under this GLOBALG.A.P. program, and thus require that their egg supplier also obtain the same levels of certification. We are glad to be able to meet their needs, as well as the needs of a growing number of our customers who are considering certification under this and similar programs.”
In addition to meeting customer demands, Troutlodge also views this program as another means of continual improvement in the company’s operations. For example, the company recently became the first trout egg producer to implement the FishTalk production management software program from the AKVA Group. This was key to providing the levels of traceability and reporting required by GLOBALG.A.P.
Global Trust served as the independent certifying body. Troutlodge will now undergo annual inspections by Global Trust in order to maintain this certification. The company also plans to have its Idaho (USA) and Isle of Man (British Isles) certified within the next year.
