Tracking harvest bins from block to customer

Traceability is a critical issue for all growers especially if they also pack their produce and sell direct to their customers. There are a number of ways of ensuring traceability and they vary depending on what existing processes are in place. (The last thing we want to do is turn your processes on their head simply to fit in with a rigid software program).

Here’s one of the ways we work with growers who harvest and pack their fruit:

Bins are identified with either an RFID tag or a bar coded card is attached to the bin when it is full. The code is scanned by a mobile device either at the point of departure from the field or when received at the pack house. The mobile device has a number of fields on the screen to identify the picker, the block, the crop & variety ( both auto filled from the block id). The bin can also be weighed (tare weight deducted) and the cool room destination selected.

All this information is stored in the database against the block.

When the bin is tipped for grading, the RFID or barcode is read again and the batch code is registered against the bin in the database, thus linking the block to the bin and the batch.

When the packout is completed and the stock dispatched we now have a direct traceability from the block to the customer.