Technology is always changing. The one constant is the need to keep up. The PMA Technology & Standards Department is the industry's leading source on technologies: Data Standardization, Data Synchronization, Barcodes, Pallet/Case/Item Marking, RFID, GTIN, E-Commerce, and Traceability.

Produce Traceability Initiative

The year after the spinach outbreak in 2006, at the request of their members, PMA, CPMA and United Fresh Produce Association assembled a group of members interested in identifying a solution to enhance the industry’s traceability capability. By early 2008, the Produce Traceability Initiative’s (PTI) Steering Committee had grown to more than 50 companies, including growers, packer/shippers, marketers, distributors and wholesalers, foodservice and retail. The group spent 10 months framing a traceability solution. Members drafted a proposed plan that was vetted with their operations experts, revised based on feedback received, and vetted again. The result: a real-world solution that members felt could be reasonably implemented by produce companies large and small alike, across the entire supply chain, operating within the U.S. market and those exporting to the United States.  Here is a link to read more about what PTI is and why you should I care.

Food Traceability in Legislative and Regulatory Circles

While several congressional bills include traceability either as a component or as the exclusive focus, this informative and comprehensive article from PMA’s Lee Mannering outlines the components the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010 (FSMA) which contains several components that address food traceability.

Produce Traceability Initiative Website

A web site dedicated to the Produce Traceability Initiative has been designed to help the industry maximize the effectiveness of current traceback procedures, while developing a standardized industry approach to enhance the speed and efficiency of traceability systems for the future. Please refer to www.producetraceability.org.

GS1 DataBar

Recently, in an effort to collect important information on the new GS1 DataBar bar code (formerly RSS), PMA surveyed all U.S. retailer members. PMA supplier members asked for a list of retailers who will accept DataBar, regardless of current implementation initiatives. Please refer to the GS1 DataBar section under the Product Identification Standards page for additional information.

DataBar Online

With the implementation of DataBar on the horizon, this simple tool will allow for data synchronization of item level GTINs with PLU codes. DataBar Online was created to allow sellers of produce to communicate their item numbers used inside of the DataBar (the GTIN) to their buyers, and to allow buyers to download the information into their Point-of-Sale systems to scan the DataBar on loose/bulk items. Retailers can also search for those suppliers who supply a specific commodity.

Produce Traceability Initiative vs. GS1 DataBar

Due to the high volume of questions we have received on this matter, this document was created to address the differences between the Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) and the DataBar.