Been there, done that, bought the traceability system

Big props to EProduce software for pouncing on the Produce Traceability Initiative and positioning itself as a solution to what is an important industry priority. I don't know much about the software other than what I read in the press release, but I can say the public relations department is answering the bell. From a news release on Newswire:

eProduce Ahead of the Traceability Initiative's Proposed and Agreed upon GS1 Standardization

NewswireToday - /newswire/ - Deming, NM, United States, 01/24/2008 - eProduce v4.0, developed using ISO, GS1 traceability standards, enables immediate compliance with the fresh produce Traceability Initiative steering committee proposed and agreed upon recommendations in Atlanta, GA January 9, 2008.
The Next Version Software (TNV), announced today its software eProduce v4.0, fresh produce production management and product trace-back software was developed using the GS1 traceability standards, as proposed and agreed upon by the steering committee of the Produce Traceability Initiative meeting held January 9 in Atlanta, Ga.eProduce developed in 2003 in response to meeting the complex compliance requirements of the US Bioterrorism Act 2002, and FDA GAP guidelines, could only be accomplished using the traceability standards developed by the international standards organization GS1, formerly known as EAN International and UCC (Uniform Code Council). eProduce provides a common platform enabling growers, packing facilities, distributors, wholesalers and retailers of fresh produce to perform consumer unit (item), trade unit (carton/bag) and logistic unit (pallet) level tracking using a dynamically generated GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), SGTIN or SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code). eProduce does not use a proprietary numbering system that requires users to use a third party server to store and/or retrieve traceability data.eProduce records grower crop production data, lot number, including maintaining records of pesticides applied, irrigation sources, and harvest records that detail the employees who harvested the fresh produce. Growers and packing facilities of distributors do not need to install any software, all they need is an internet connection to access the trade partner’s eProduce application, providing a common platform for all members within the supply chain, including the consumer. eProduce supports the GS1 traceability standards requirements of recording packaging supplies consumed in the packing process and third party carrier logistics including transportation company data.eProduce users simply create electronic records, instead of manual records of the fresh produce, within the four walls and outside of the four walls, those records are stored in a database for on-demand display, enabling users of eProduce to perform product trace-back within seconds. “Last year we performed a mock re-call for one of our customers using eProduce, literally within minutes we emailed a report on over 1500 pallets of product that were shipped to locations throughout the United States”, stated James Johnson, VP Carzalia Valley Produce, Inc. eProduce is compatible with and receives input from any Code 128 compliant hardware device (reader or scanner) capable of reading RSS barcodes on a PLU or RFID encoding on a trade or logistics unit. Using pre-printed serialized RSS barcodes on the labels of clam shells, cellophane wraps, cartons or flats allow eProduce to collect product information with virtually no impact on the harvest/packing personnel.“Implementing a GS1 traceability standard solution is not only about compliance, but also enhances your ability to manage exposure to risk”, stated Anderson Grogen Sr., CEO Next Version Software at the Summer 2007 NOA Convention held in Fresno, CA. “Your inability to quickly identify a product involved in a recall and with previously little known attorneys waiting to file lawsuits, the fresh produce industry could easily find itself involved in another category wide recall. We need only look at the wrongful implication of green onions by Taco Bell and the millions of dollars lost by the supplier of the green onions in sales, product destroyed and damage done to the growers who supplied green onions to the supplier, to see this is also a “risk management” issue.”The Next Version Software (TNV) established in 1993, possess extensive experience in internet based software application development, data modeling and database administration. TNV has designed, developed and implemented compliance solutions for law enforcement agencies, social service agencies, natural resource development companies and the healthcare industry, utilizing standards developed by ISO organizations.To learn more about eProduce or to schedule a online demonstration please visit our website “eproduce.biz” or call.Next Version Software is committed to providing training, consulting and low cost software solutions to members of the fresh produce industry, desiring to implement a GS1 standardize traceability software solution.