Pacific Produce Continues To Have Perpetual Food Safety Infractions

A supermarket in Greenfield is precariously close to having its license revoked as city health officials continue to notice food safety infractions.

Darren Rausch, the city's health director, told the Board of Health on Thursday Pacific Produce has failed to make substantial improvements according to an inspection performed at the supermarket, located at 5455 S. 27th St., on June 20.

Inspectors noticed a lack of employee knowledge, food from unknown sources, moldy vegetables and improper load limits in the refrigerators and freezers, according to Rausch. Maintenance and floor drainage issues also persist at the supermarket.

"In short, the inspection didn't show that much progress at all had been made since the May inspection," Rauch said.

The Board in May , giving the supermarket until September to stay open as it worked to improve food safety practices. 

"I'm concerned that things won't fall into place," said Rauch, who added that the establishment has taken steps to make the place better, which has yet to be reflected in the inspection reports.  

"All parties are indicating their commitment and determination," said Rauch who recently met with the store's owner and his lawyer. 

The city's main concerns with the supermarket have involved reoccurring issues with employee knowledge and training; food labeling, temperatures and storage, the maintaining of specifically meats and employee hygiene. 

Between the supermarket opening in November, 2010 and January, 2012, it has been inspected or re-inspected 23 times, had two investigations stemming from customer complaints and had 11 consultations related to food safety and compliance issues. The store has also been issued six citations and received one order to close the deli area in May 2011.

The Board of Health gave Pacific Produce a second chance to clean up its act in May after it began to resolve some of the issues at the store. 

Among those steps has been the involvement of David Flora, a well-known regional advisor who specializes in the support and improvement of grocery store operations; the addition of five certified food managers on staff; and thousands of dollars spent on new equipment needed for the requirements in connection with the type of food that is sold in the store.

Kohl's Food Store in a building that was vacant and unused for a number of years. According to the store's lawyer, it has invested millions of dollars to acquire the property and redesign and reconstruct the space. Pacific Produce now holds probably 30,000 products in its 20,000-square-foot operation. 

According to city officials, the former Fields Family Restaurant on Loomis Road is the only known establishment in the city to have its food license revoked, which occurred 15 years ago.