International standards group to incorporate
International standards group to incorporate
The International Federation for Produce Coding is incorporating in England in the first quarter of 2006. The organization will become an independent entity, and "if all goes as planned," it will "probably" become the International Federation for Produce Standards, according to the group's secretary-general, Alicia Calhoun.
Ms. Calhoun serves in that capacity from her post as director of industry technology and standards for the Produce Marketing Association in Newark, DE.
The International Federation for Produce Coding is a coalition of fruit and vegetable associations from around the globe that joined together in 2001 as equal partners to pursue the task of introducing a global standard for the use of international price look up numbers. The group's work is coordinated by the PMA, and the federation's members (in addition to Ms. Calhoun) are based in four regions: Chairman Doug Henderson of the Fresh Produce Consortium in the United Kingdom; Latin American representative Ron Bown of the Chilean Exporters Association in Chile; North American representative and Produce Electronic Identification Board Chairman Don Harris of Wild Oats Markets; and Asia / Pacific representative Richard Bennett of Horticulture Australia.
Ms. Calhoun said that the Canadian Produce Marketing Association is also "pretty heavily" involved with the federation, and the Ottawa-based association's Jane Proctor leads Canada's involvement in the global group.
Ms. Calhoun does not expect the incorporation to bring many changes to the organizations beyond its establishment of a more formal identity. But, she added, "We are trying to reach to other regions and other standards and initiatives other than PLUs. We will see as time goes by" how those efforts materialize. The long-term objective of the federation is to develop comprehensive solutions on product identification for the entire produce industry supply chain.
Ms. Calhoun said that her time and PMA's involvement in the global group are "part of what PMA is doing" to have the global industry involved in developing efficient worldwide industry standards. "We can't just focus on North American standards any more. There are many players [outside North America] that need to be connected. We keep the dialogue going with the right players to assure that happens."
Over these last five years, this "has worked extremely well." PMA "will continue to administrate" the organization, "but it will have its own life as well."
Ms. Calhoun said that most of her work is implementing federation meetings, which are held each spring, then again each fall at the PMA convention. She said that PMA has been involved in standardizing PLUs since the 1980s.
Ms. Calhoun serves in that capacity from her post as director of industry technology and standards for the Produce Marketing Association in Newark, DE.
The International Federation for Produce Coding is a coalition of fruit and vegetable associations from around the globe that joined together in 2001 as equal partners to pursue the task of introducing a global standard for the use of international price look up numbers. The group's work is coordinated by the PMA, and the federation's members (in addition to Ms. Calhoun) are based in four regions: Chairman Doug Henderson of the Fresh Produce Consortium in the United Kingdom; Latin American representative Ron Bown of the Chilean Exporters Association in Chile; North American representative and Produce Electronic Identification Board Chairman Don Harris of Wild Oats Markets; and Asia / Pacific representative Richard Bennett of Horticulture Australia.
Ms. Calhoun said that the Canadian Produce Marketing Association is also "pretty heavily" involved with the federation, and the Ottawa-based association's Jane Proctor leads Canada's involvement in the global group.
Ms. Calhoun does not expect the incorporation to bring many changes to the organizations beyond its establishment of a more formal identity. But, she added, "We are trying to reach to other regions and other standards and initiatives other than PLUs. We will see as time goes by" how those efforts materialize. The long-term objective of the federation is to develop comprehensive solutions on product identification for the entire produce industry supply chain.
Ms. Calhoun said that her time and PMA's involvement in the global group are "part of what PMA is doing" to have the global industry involved in developing efficient worldwide industry standards. "We can't just focus on North American standards any more. There are many players [outside North America] that need to be connected. We keep the dialogue going with the right players to assure that happens."
Over these last five years, this "has worked extremely well." PMA "will continue to administrate" the organization, "but it will have its own life as well."
Ms. Calhoun said that most of her work is implementing federation meetings, which are held each spring, then again each fall at the PMA convention. She said that PMA has been involved in standardizing PLUs since the 1980s.
