A lot has changed since the concept of the Produce Traceability Initiative burst on the scene a half-dozen years ago. At the time, case labeling every carton with a code that could be read up and down the supply chain appeared to be a daunting task, but now experts say it isn’t that difficult at all — and is much less expensive than first imagined.

Dan Vaché, vice president of supply chain management for the United Fresh Produce Association, said the technology providers have worked through the issues and have solutions for shippers and retailers and everyone in between.  

United Supermarkets in Lubbock, TX, recently adopted the FoodLink system, and Director of Produce Procurement Tommy Wilkins said that 98 percent of the company’s produce providers are using the system and are PTI compliant.

Kevin Brooks, chief marketing officer of FoodLink, said the company’s traceability program, which he also calls a warehouse management system that has both a field and a packingshed component, is really quite simple.

In essence, a shipper purchases a system that can print case-level barcodes for either field or packingshed application, said Brooks. The printing of the label downloads the relevant information into the software program. That label is then scanned throughout its trip from the field to the retail warehouse distribution center and even beyond, out from the distribution center to the individual store. Along the way, the information is stored on the FoodLink site for easy access.

Brooks said this system can provide whole-chain traceability if everyone along the chain is on the FoodLink system. If not, he said the FoodLink system can import information from other systems and can also download the information to other systems.

He said the FoodLink program works with a smart phone, so virtually anyone with a smart phone — and that’s just about everybody — can open the FoodLink program, access the correct customers page and scan the bar code at any point along the supply chain.  

Brooks said that typically the product is scanned in the field and then scanned (via a pallet tag) by the truck driver when it is picked up from the field and delivered to the warehouse.

The pallet information, or the advanced shipping notice, is typically used from that point on as the cartons make their way to the retailer distribution center.

“The fact that you can use a smart phone makes this pretty inexpensive,” said Brooks. “Nowadays, you can buy an Android for $100 or less.”

FoodLink’s charges are calculated through a data usage metric, which can include other services such as electronic invoicing. Brooks said only the very largest shippers will have investments in the couple hundred thousand dollar range. He said for smaller shippers, the cost is very reasonable. And he maintains that the return on investment is tangible.  

To be in compliance with Walmart and other receivers, shippers have to adopt PTI, so Brooks said if they get over that mental hurdle and then look for the ROI, they will find it.  

For suppliers, he said PTI eliminates errors and chargebacks; offers foolproof first-in/first-out warehouse management; and can efficiently manage all purchase orders, order changes, ASNs and invoicing. For buyers, Brooks cites the advantages as being lower cost of goods sold, improved fulfillment service and better product quality being sold.

And for both shipper and receiver, full PTI compliance means complete traceability from the field to the store level.