The purpose of this section is to emphasize how GS1 Standards significantly improve food traceability. Traceability is essential for ensuring safety, maintaining quality, boosting consumer confidence, optimizing supply chains, and promoting sustainability. By adopting GS1 Standards, the produce industry established robust traceability practices that benefit both the consumer and the supply chain.

Links to the relevant standards and guidelines are provided to make sure the section serves as a starting point for companies that are willing to implement traceability and transparency with Fresh Fruit and Vegetables. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel as the relevant standards already exist.

Food traceability starts with the identification of the fresh fruits and vegetables that are being moved through the supply chains, using a Global Trade Item Number® (GTIN), and the locations to which and from they are being moved, using a Global Location Number (GLN). Correct identification of goods and locations enables the connection between physical and digital information flows between trading partners.

In addition, unique identification of parties and locations, using a GLN, is critical for efficient logistic operations, traceability programs, recall readiness, and more. With the GLN Registry, GLNs can be stored ensuring accurate and up-to date location information, supporting supply chain visibility, and driving transparency and trust within organisations and with outside business partners.

Information about goods and locations is accessible using the Verified by GS1 tool.

Traceability information can be shared between trading partners using GS1 sharing standards as Global Data Synchronization Network®(GDSN), Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS).

Moreover, traceability information can be shared with the consumer using a QR code with GS1 Digital Link. The QR code can be scanned at point of sale, bringing food safety to the consumer and helping reduce food waste, as well as acting as gateway to consumer information online such as ingredients, allergens and nutrition, sustainability information or recipes.

From a Global perspective, GS1 has developed a Traceability for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Implementation Guide. This document provides guidance for implementing traceability in fresh fruit & vegetable supply chains using the GS1 standards for identification, data capture, data sharing & the GS1 Global Traceability Standard.

Traceability for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables – Implementation Guide | GS1

Find traceability use cases and more information about collaborations with industry, end users and solution providers and other stake holders on the GS1 Global Office website for Traceability: https://gs1.org/standards/traceability