Warehouse conditions

I. Warehouse storage conditions

  • The warehouse is rodent proof as to roof, walls, doors, and windows. The warehouse is free of cracks and water seep.
  • The warehouse complies with all applicable state and local laws.
  • The warehouse has sufficient light to permit cleaning crews to work and weigh the coffee bags.
  • The warehouse is artificially heated to a minimum level to follow the recommendations described on the coffee bags.
  • The warehouse is free of leaking pipes.
  • The warehouse is equipped with a toilet facility, which is clean, in good repair, and supplied with proper soaps and towels.
  • The warehouse has a sign, clearly visible in the toilet, requiring employees to wash their hands after use of the toilet facilities.
  • The warehouse has signs, clearly visible, prohibiting smoking, eating, or drinking in the storage areas.
  • The warehouse has a theft-deterrent alarm system connected to a central monitoring service.
  • The warehouse has temperate control in every room (digital thermometers with an online monitoring system).

 

II. Housekeeping practices

  • The floor is maintained broom is always clean. Inactive storage areas, corners, ledges, or other non-storage areas are always kept clean. Also, the walls are free of cobwebs, accumulated dirt, dust, excrete, loose foreign matter, and peeling paint.
  • A housekeeper signs a notebook every time cleaning is done – every two weeks.
  • The warehouse maintains outside areas free of conditions, which may result in a buildup of pest problems, all outside loading and unloading areas as well as the grounds around the warehouse.

 

III. Other storage practices

  • Coffee is stored on pallets that provide a minimum of 10 cm distance from the floor.
  • The pallets, including those stored for future use, are kept clean and in good repair.
  • Coffee is being stored a minimum of 60 cm from the ceiling and a minimum of 10 cm from the walls.
  • Coffee is not stored higher than 20 bags piled up over one another.
  • Every coffee bag has marks printed with crop year, name of the product, best before date, storage conditions (if applicable), and country of origin, in the English language, as the company operates at an international level (imports and exports).
  • No equipment such as a forklift is used at the warehouse, operation is fully manual.

 

IV. Stored coffee

  • All coffee entering the warehouse has a certification of origin.
  • The warehouse conducts a monthly inspection of each lot of coffee to determine its condition. The warehouse takes all necessary precautions to prevent contamination/infestation of the bags.
  • The warehouse maintains a log documenting the monthly inspections.
  • No odorous products or things are stored in such a manner or place as to enable the odor to be imparted to the coffee. No coffee is stored in any area where such foreign odors prevail or where hazardous or high-fire-risk materials are stored.

 

V. Pest control

  • The warehouse maintains a written pest control program, available for evaluation.
  • The warehouse maintains rodent control equipment along inside perimeter walls spaced twenty-five 7 meters, or less, apart. Rodent control equipment can be glue boards, traps, or other mechanical devices.
  • Rodent control programs are performed once a month taking into consideration the exterior as well as the interior conditions of the warehouse.