Given the number of employees (including seasonal workers in particular) involved in the growing of fresh produce, there is a heightened risk of a tampering event which is covered under CFC’s malicious product tamper section. This occurs most commonly when a disgruntled employee tampers with the product of their employers, which can lead to bodily injury if consumed. Considering the low wages offered by some growers, this is becoming increasingly common.

Some fresh produce is grown all year round, especially now that artificial lighting and climate control allow for vast indoor farming facilities. However, most fresh produce is still grown on a seasonal basis. This means that a month of lost production can be catastrophic for a business. CFC’s business interruption section provides cover for the company’s loss of sales during this period. CFC also offers specific loss of sales coverage for advisories issued by the FDA, FSIS, USDA and CDC, even when no individual company has been identified as the faulty party.

Many large retailers have multiple willing suppliers providing products at short notice for a low cost due to their bargaining power and economies of scale. This means that small growers and suppliers often have contracts in place which favour the retailers, leading to large punitive costs and penalties when a recall event occurs. CFC not only offers cover for first and third-party recall costs, but also unsubstantiated retailer costs. On top of this, cover can be purchased to reimburse the suppliers for the damages they are legally liable to pay to these large retailers.