DALLAS — Reviewing feedback from industry surveys and other sources, more than 50 members of the Produce Traceability Initiative Steering Committee met here recently to discuss the PTI's current status and direction. Committee members unanimously confirmed that their respective organizations remain committed to the initiative, which will ultimately establish common data standards for electronic traceability throughout the entire produce supply chain.
Committee members also said that PTI needs to move toward more robust engagement and dialogue with all industry sectors, and establish a closer partnership with global standards organization and barcode developer GS1 US, to bring additional expertise and operational support to the initiative, according to a release.
“The intent of our meeting was to measure PTI progress, identify and prioritize issues facing us, and discuss plans to address these,” Cathy Green, steering committee chair and president of the Food Lion family of companies, said in a release. “We focused strongly on feedback received from industry surveys, from other committee members and from our own experience over the past 18 months. As the leader of a supermarket company committed to PTI, I found it very gratifying to hear for myself that other committee members are also moving forward to meet the milestones established in the PTI plan.”
The PTI is currently administered by the Produce Marketing Association, the United Fresh Produce Association and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association.
Several PTI working groups have made progress with PTI since the steering committee last met in August 2008, noted Bryan Silbermann, PMA president and chief executive officer. However, new challenges have emerged since then as well.
“The business environment has changed and one of the key lessons we've learned is that we need the right model of leadership engagement and structure in place to drive the initiative forward,” said Silbermann. “This must include more senior executive engagement, as well as better ongoing communication and educational outreach aimed at all industry sectors.”
Tom Stenzel, United Fresh president and chief executive officer, agreed, noting that the produce industry must continue to move forward with PTI, despite economic challenges.
“With the hard work of implementing these traceability steps well under way, the complexity and cost of this effort is proving challenging to many companies,” Stenzel said. “The steering committee candidly discussed the need for greater stakeholder involvement across the industry, a clearer understanding of the most cost-effective strategies for addressing each milestone, and a focus on ensuring that PTI results in the ability to more narrowly define future recalls and produces a real [return on investment] for the industry.”