The Produce Traceability Initiative is currently in the process of forming industry-led working groups to guide its future activities.  The initiative was designed in order to help the produce industry maximize and improve traceback procedures and standardize industry-wide traceability practices.

Working groups are open to industry members from across the fresh produce supply chain, and interested parties are invited to volunteer their time and expertise to one or more of the new working groups.

In addition to the working groups, GS1 US has joined the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, Produce Marketing Association, and United Fresh Produce Association (United Fresh) as a Produce Traceability Initiative-administering organization.

According to an Initiative press release, the consortium is looking for volunteers in four key areas in order to drive its work forward.  The four groups looking for volunteers include:

1. Implementation Working Group: will guide and promote industry-wide adoption of GS1 standards at the foundation of the Produce Traceability Initiative, including developing best practices, identifying solutions to implementation issues, and tracking industry implementation.

2. Master Data Working Group: will address issues regarding identifying product attributes and communicating that data between trading partners.

3. Industry Communications Working Group: will ensure two-way communication between the initiative and industry.

4. Technology Working Group: will provide a forum for technology providers to collaborate to support the initiative.

Volunteers are also being sought to participate in Produce Traceability Initiative-designed pilot projects as well as to work with the initiative in order to develop case studies of pilot projects their companies have already completed.

For more information about volunteering for new working groups, the Produce Traceability Initiative, the initiative’s Leadership Council or other general questions, please see the initiative’s Website.