Hi, I’m Michelle.
Growing up in beautiful Skagit Valley meant you worked in agriculture as a youngster to make money to buy a bike. I worked summers picking Strawberries, Raspberries, and Cucumbers alongside friends from 8 through high school. Working in spinach and into college, I worked in the plant canning berries and then drove a pea-viner, pod stripper, and then a pea truck sometimes to Chehalis.
Later, marrying into a now, 4th generation farming family allowed me to raise three beautiful girls. Then, I worked on maintaining the food safety and employee safety program, earning an L&I award for then-Governor Gregoire for drastically lowering our accident rating.
I’m experienced with:
HACCP and Food Safety Plan development
Organic Leafy Greens
Food Safety Manager for agribusiness
Packing commodities and the highest level of certification in USDA, Global Gap, SQF, Food Alliance, Salmon Safe, and the NOP - All maintaining excellent certification ratings.
I have worked with Avocados in California, Rice in Missouri, Blueberries in Skagit Valley ( in the same fields I picked in as a young child), and currently with organic Cherries and Apples in Mesa, WA.
Putting a puzzle together or connecting the dots between compliance criteria and what it takes to get there. I deny the credit involved when a grower receives their certificate, as it takes a team.
I stay current along the way, maintaining my education to keep up to date with the latest programs for certification.
Let me know how I can help.