Food Traceability Series: Produce

Our Food Traceability blog series, part 7, is from Tejas Bhatt, one of our guest speakers at our Food Traceability Summit that is taking place right here in Brighton, Michigan, on August 19th. The source is from “A Guidance Document on the Best Practices in Food Traceability, Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, Vol. 13, pp. 1074-1103 by Jianrong Zhang and Tejas Bhatt. We are breaking down the document into different blogs leading up to the event. This section talks about the processed food chain. If you missed part six on the processed food chain, you can find the link here.

Stakeholders in a produce sector supply chain.

Produce

This section describes the typical supply chain for the produce sector as well as develops a specialized CTE/KDE framework for this sector.

Supply chain

As shown above, the most likely groups of stakeholders involved in the production and distribution of fresh produce are presented.

Specialized CTE-KDE framework

Grower Kdes

• Commodity
• Variety
• Harvest Date and Time
• Product Identifier (unique code assigned to the particular product)
• Harvesting Field Lot Number
• Harvesting Crew Name
• Harvest or Production Lot Quantity/Weight (pounds or tons)
• Grower name

Packer does

Harvest side:

• Grower Name
• Commodity
• Variety
• Harvest Date and Time
• Product Identifier (unique code assigned to the particular product)
• Harvesting Field Lot Number
• Harvest/Production Lot Quantity/Weight (pounds or tons)

Packing side:

• Commodity
• Variety
• Product Identifier (unique code assigned to the particular product)
• Product/Pack Style, Size, Quality
• Packing Date and Time
• Packing Lot
• Pallet Tags/Case Tags
• Shipping Manifest
• Detail Pallet Tags on Shipment
• Packer Name/Facility
• Packing Lot Quantity/Weight

Distributor Kdes

Packing side:

• Shipping Manifest
• Pallet Tags/Case Tags
• Commodity
• Variety
• Product Identifier (unique code assigned to the particular product) (GTIN)
• Product/Pack Style, Size, Quality
• Detail Pallet Tags on Shipment
• Packing Date and Time
• Packer Name and Location
• Packing Lot Quantity/Weight

Distribution side:

• Commodity
• Variety
• Product Identifier (unique code assigned to the particular product)
• Product/ Pack Style, Size, Quality
• PU Number (Pickup number or Order Number; normally the identifier number for the sale transaction from the vendor)
• Customer Name
• Customer PO Number
• BOL
• Shipping Quantity/Weight
• Pallet Tags/Case Tags
• Shipping Date/Time
• Detail Pallet Tags on Shipment

Wholesale Kdes (The Intermediary Between The Grower/Distributor And Retailer/Restaurant)

Distribution side

• PU Number
• PO Number
• BOL
• Distributor Name
• Commodity
• Variety

• Product Identifier (unique code assigned to the particular product)
• Product/Pack Style, Size, Quality
• Receiving Date and Time
• Quality Control Information
• Pallet /Case Tags

Customer side

• Customer PO
• Order No
• Commodity
• Variety
• Product Identifier (unique code assigned to the particular product)
• Product/Pack Style, Size, Quality
• Wholesale BOL
• Shipping Date and Time
• Shipping Quantity/Weight
• Pallet Case Tags

Repacker Kde (An Entity That Takes Prepacked Produce And Repacks It Into Different Configurations)

Repacker Side

• Work Order
• Input Lot Numbers (BOL, PU Numbers, and others)
• Input Product/Pack Style, Size, Quality
• Output Product/Pack Style, Size, Quality
• Commodity
• Variety
• Product Identifier (unique code assigned to the particular product)
• Loss Report
• Pallet/Case Tags

Special Considerations

• Growers/packers might have direct access to POS customers through partnerships; thus, that scenario does not include the need for a distribution entity or any other 3rd party in the delivery of product.
• In any given transaction, there may be 2 or more entities involved that do not receive or take possession of the product. For example, brokers may buy product from Distributor A and sell it to Customer X, but the product may ship directly from Distributor A. For tracking purposes, the events need to be considered, since different PU or PO numbers may be involved.
• Repackers may run several lots from different growers/distributors in a single repack, creating a commingling situation.
• A unified naming convention for a product could be very useful to homogenize product names across the distribution chain.
• Homogeneous tracking information capabilities (pallet tags/case tags) may also be very useful, especially for traceability in wholesale and terminal market operations.

Strengthening Produce Traceability with Digital Technology

Produce moves through one of the most complex supply chains in the food industry. From harvesting fields to packing facilities, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and food service providers, fresh produce often changes hands multiple times before reaching consumers. Maintaining accurate traceability throughout each of these stages is essential for protecting food safety, improving inventory visibility, and responding quickly to quality concerns or product recalls.

Digital traceability solutions help eliminate many of the challenges associated with paper-based recordkeeping. Instead of manually documenting product movements, organizations can automate data collection using barcode technology, RFID, mobile computers, and integrated traceability software. This approach improves data accuracy while creating a complete digital history for every product lot.

Standardizing Data Across the Supply Chain

Consistent product identification is critical for effective traceability. When every participant in the supply chain uses standardized product information and labeling practices, data can move seamlessly between growers, packers, distributors, and retailers.

Standardized traceability supports:

• Accurate lot identification
• Consistent product descriptions
• Reliable shipment records
• Faster inventory verification
• Improved communication between trading partners
• Better regulatory compliance

Establishing standardized data also reduces confusion when products are transferred between multiple facilities or organizations.

Improving Visibility with Automated Data Capture

Manual data entry increases the risk of transcription errors and incomplete records. Automated identification technologies allow organizations to capture information quickly while improving reliability throughout the supply chain.

Barcode scanning and RFID technologies help record:

• Harvest information
• Packing activities
• Warehouse movements
• Shipment confirmations
• Receiving transactions
• Inventory transfers

Because information is captured electronically, businesses gain immediate access to accurate records that support both operational efficiency and regulatory reporting.

Supporting Cold Chain Management

Fresh produce is highly sensitive to storage and transportation conditions. Maintaining proper temperatures throughout the supply chain helps preserve quality while reducing spoilage and food safety risks.

Digital traceability systems can work alongside environmental monitoring technologies to record important handling conditions such as:

• Storage temperatures
• Transportation temperatures
• Receiving conditions
• Warehouse storage duration
• Shipping timelines

Combining traceability data with environmental records provides greater confidence that products have been handled according to established quality standards.

Faster Response During Food Safety Events

One of the greatest advantages of digital produce traceability is the ability to respond quickly when food safety concerns arise. Instead of manually reviewing paperwork from multiple facilities, organizations can electronically identify affected products and determine where they have been distributed.

An effective traceability system helps businesses:

This level of visibility minimizes business disruption while helping protect consumers.

Building a Connected Produce Supply Chain

Modern produce supply chains depend on collaboration between growers, packers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and food service providers. Digital traceability systems create a connected flow of information that improves visibility at every stage of the product journey.

Lowry Solutions produces traceability initiatives through integrated barcode systems, RFID technology, enterprise mobility, industrial labeling, and automated data collection solutions. By helping organizations capture accurate information from harvest through final delivery, these technologies improve traceability, strengthen food safety programs, simplify regulatory compliance, and provide the end-to-end visibility needed for today’s increasingly complex produce supply chains.