The Traceability and Logistics Demonstration Center, arguably the most popular element of last year’s United Fresh Produce Association expo and convention will make its return later this month at United Fresh 2010, complete with roundtable discussions of all things traceability, from new barcode scanning technology to innovative ways to increase labeling efficiency, as well as a detailed discussion of the seven milestones of the Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI), a joint venture between United Fresh, the Produce Marketing Association and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association that looks to bring the produce industry to whole-chain traceability by 2012.

          "Having the thought leaders in the produce industry sit down with the leading minds in technology solutions, research and development, and make themselves available for members to ask questions face to face is a tremendous asset," said Dan Vaché, United Fresh vice president of supply chain management. "While the industry is making considerable progress toward accomplishing each of the seven PTI milestones, there are still many industry members out there with a wide variety of questions regarding the initiative. These roundtables give the industry a chance to have those questions answered by the people best equipped to do so."

Roundtable discussion topics and speakers include:

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Getting Started: PTI Milestones #1 & #2 – For members of the industry just getting started on the first PTI Milestones can learn what is needed to take the first steps toward PTI compliance. Attendees are encouraged to bring questions about how to obtain their company prefixes and assign the individual GTIN numbers to their case and packaging configurations. Facilitators for this session will be Vaché, GS1 US Directors Angela Fernandez and Steve Arens, Elliott Grant, chief marketing officer for HarvestMark, incoming United Fresh Chairman Steffanie Smith, CEO of River Point Farms, LLC, Tom Casas, vice president of information technologies for Tanimura & Antle, and QLM Consulting Principal Michael McCartney.

Synchronizing Data: PTI Milestone #3 – Designed to unclutter the process of exchanging GTIN information across many buyers and sellers, this session encourages attendees to bring questions on data synchronization to talk with others who are facing the same challenges. Facilitators for this session will be Vaché, Fernandez, Arens and Casas as well as Food Lion Produce Category Manager Teri Miller, Strube Celery & Vegetable Company Director of Finance Lisa Strube and Phil Dammarell, senior manager of supply chain initiatives for The Kroger Company.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Case Labeling: PTI Milestones #4 & #5 – Labeling each case of produce with GTINs and lot numbers will be major accomplishment for whole chain traceability, but comes with major hurdles. Attendees facing Milestones #4 and 5 can learn from each other how to build efficiencies and reduce costs in case labeling. Facilitators for this discussion will be Vaché, Fernandez, Arens, Smith and McCartney, as well as Amy Gates, vice president of administration and finance for Frontera Produce.

Capturing Inbound/Outbound Data: PTI Milestones #6 & #7 - The end of the supply chain is the most critical in capturing data on cases coming into inventory and outbound to individual stores and restaurants, posing both major challenges and major opportunities with regard to business processes. At this session, attendees will talk with peers and experts about potential solutions. Facilitators for this session will be Vaché, Fernandez, Arens, Damarrell and Grant, as well as Brendan Comito, COO of Capital City Fruit Co., Inc.

          The Traceability and Logistics Demo Center is a key part of United Fresh 2010’s theme of "Winning Is Everything." United Fresh 2010 looks to highlight the skills, products and technologies needed to build and maintain a successful, winning produce business, focusing on specialized programming for all segments of the fresh and fresh-cut produce industry.

A full schedule of events as well as registration options and general show information can be found at www.unitedfresh2010.org.