Launch Of Traceability Website
February 12, 2009 The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA), Produce Marketing Association (PMA), and United Fresh Produce Association (United Fresh) have launched producetraceability.org, an online resource to aid produce companies in the transition to new traceability measures proposed by the joint Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI).
Producetraceability.org is administered by CPMA, PMA, and United Fresh. The site includes resources and educational tools for those wanting to learn more about PTI, a list of companies that support the PTI, a bulletin board and question-and-answer section for industry questions and discussion, a news and events section, a press room containing recent news releases, headshots of spokespersons, contact information and an art gallery.
“The website will be a great resource for anyone who wants to know more about PTI and how to meet the milestones that the steering committee recommended,” said PTI Steering Committee Chair and Food Lion, LLC Chief Operating Officer Cathy Green. “There are still important industry questions that need to be answered and we plan to use the website as an information forum.”
Since October 2008, more than 40 companies from throughout the produce supply chain have endorsed the recommendations developed by the PTI Steering Committee to move the supply chain to a common standard for electronic produce traceability by the end of 2012. The plan involves adopting a standardized system of case bar-coding for all produce sold in the U.S., in order to allow product to be tracked throughout the distribution chain. The plan will maximize the effectiveness of the industry’s current traceability procedures, improve external efficiencies, and assist public officials when they need to quickly trace back a product. Intended to enhance overall supply chain traceability in speed and efficiency, a standardized system could significantly improve the industry’s ability to narrow the impact of product recalls.
