California Giant Berry Farms Zeros in on Traceability
With the 2013 berry season now underway, at least one major supplier is focusing squarely on food safety. California Giant Berry Farms has put several new components in place, but the centerpiece is its expansion to full item-level traceability utilizing the FoodLink Item solution on all domestic strawberries.
The team has completed a comprehensive pilot program, working closely with the group at FoodLink to ensure complete accuracy upon full implementation. FoodLink’s Item solution allows the supplier to place an individualized QR code on every strawberry container next to the UPC code. Each unique code will contain information about the specific growing location for each package. Item-level traceability utilizing the QR code will allow both trading partners and the consumer to trace strawberries back to the source.
“We have worked very closely with FoodLink and our clamshell providers to create an accurate, efficient way of achieving this," said Lucky Westwood, VP of operations for California Giant. "We hope to enhance our consumers' confidence and overall experience with our berries. In the meantime, our daily attention is focused on a Food Safe production system based on risk assessment, prevention and training throughout the company.”
California Giant is also now fully compliant with the Global Food Safety Initiative in all products and all regions.
In 2012, the company gained full Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) compliance with all California grown products. Implementation of PTI will expand to all products grown and shipped by the company on an international basis by year's end.