PTI Webinar Series Available For On-Demand Viewing

A six-part webinar series educating produce industry companies on the logistics of the Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) is available for on-demand viewing, the PTI’s administering organizations announced. The sessions can be found at www.producetraceability.org/news_events/index.cfm.

The first webinar, “PTI’s 5 Ws (and 1 H): Who, What, When, Where, Why and How,” provides an overview of the PTI. It features the PTI Leadership Council’s co-chairs, Cathy Green Burns, CEO of the Food Lion Family of banners, and Doug Grant, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of The Oppenheimer Group.

The remaining sessions are more tactical, under the banner of “Implementing PTI.” Four recorded sessions have been posted: “Best Practices for Packer/Shippers”; “Best Practices for Assigning GTINs”; “Best Practices for Case Labeling”; and “Best Practices for Hybrid Pallet Labeling.”

One remaining session, “Best Practices for Retailers,” can be heard live on Thurs., Oct. 6, and will be available for replay afterward.

The purpose of the series is to assist produce industry companies that have chosen to implement the PTI. The industry speakers are implementing the PTI and are sharing their key learnings and best practices to help other companies in the industry.  The series should be of interest to all produce industry trading partners and traceability solution providers.

Speakers include industry members who are early adopters of the PTI as well as members of the four administering organizations: the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, GS1 US, the Produce Marketing Association, and United Fresh Produce Association.

There is no registration fee, and no log-on credentials are necessary.

About the Canadian Produce Marketing Association

Based in Ottawa, Ontario, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) is a not-for-profit organization that, since 1925, represents companies that are active in the fresh fruit and vegetable market in Canada, from the farm gate to the dinner plate. CPMA members include major grower/shippers/packers/marketer, importer/exporters, transportation, brokers, distributor/wholesalers, retailers, fresh cuts and foodservice distributors/operators and  processors integrating all segments of the fresh produce industry. CPMA is proud to represent over 760 international and Canadian members who are responsible for 90% of the fresh fruit and vegetable sales in Canada. CPMA is funded by the industry through voluntary membership and various services, activities and sponsorship programs. For more information about CPMA, please visit www.cpma.ca

About GS1 US

GS1 US is a not-for-profit organization that brings industry communities together to solve value-chain problems through the adoption and implementation of GS1 Standards. More than 200,000 businesses in 25 industries rely on GS1 US for trading-partner collaboration and for maximizing the efficiency, visibility, security and sustainability of their business processes. They achieve these benefits through GS1 US solutions based on GS1 global unique numbering and identification systems, barcodes, Electronic Product Code™-enabled RFID, data synchronization, and electronic information exchange. GS1 US also manages the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code® (UNSPSC®).For more information, visit www.GS1US.org.

About Produce Marketing Association (PMA)

Founded in 1949, Produce Marketing Association is the leading trade association representing nearly 3,000 companies from every segment of the global produce and floral supply chain. Members rely on PMA year round for the business solutions they need to increase sales and consumption, build strong professional relationships, and expand their business opportunities. For more information, visit www.pma.com.

About United Fresh Produce Association (United Fresh)

Founded in 1904, the United Fresh Produce Association serves companies at the forefront of the global fresh and fresh-cut produce industry, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and Western Regional office in Salinas, Calif., United Fresh and its members work year-round to make a difference for the produce industry by driving policies that increase consumption of fresh produce, shaping critical legislative and regulatory action, providing scientific and technical leadership in food safety, quality assurance, nutrition and health, and developing educational programs and business opportunities to assist member companies in growing successful businesses. For more information, visit www.unitedfresh.org.

Source: CPMA, GS1 US, PMA, United Fresh