Product Traceability

Fruits is able to trace the history and the location of their exported fresh produce by means of recorded identifications.

There are different lot numbers or identification numbers used for traceability, but it is all recorded on stock management software, written especially for the fresh produce industry.

The fresh produce is packed in packaging units (boxes, lugs etc.) on the farm or pack house. The boxes are marked clearly with the PUC (Production Unit Code) of the supplier/farmer. It is then palletized and receives a unique pallet identification number, which is the first lot number. The pallet number is a Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) that is used throughout the supply chain as an entity identifier for item tracing and internal control.

The SSCC number is an 18 digit numeric data structure. The uniqueness of the data structure is ensured through the use of the GS1 Company Prefix that is supplied by GS1 South Africa. The company prefixes, along with the serial number that is assigned by GS1 SA, acts as an identifier.

GS1 is a global organization dedicated to the design and implementation of global standards and solutions to improve the efficiency and visibility of supply and demand chains globally and across multiple sectors. The GS1 System of standards is the most widely used supply chain standards system in the world.

The next identification number is added when a few pallets are grouped into yet another lot that is presented for inspection by PPECB (Perishable Produce and Export Control Board). A consignment note is issued with all the details of the relevant pallets. Each consignment note has its own reference number. The consignment note shows the day of packaging, the fruit specifications, as well as the date of inspection and whether the lot has been approved for export.

The inspected fruit is then taken in at a cold store facility for cooling and storage. The cold store will capture all the detail of the consignment note on a stock system and the relevant stock information is then electronically passed on to Fruits.

When allocating the fresh produce to a vessel, Fruits will generate yet another reference number for each client on the vessel. This number will then be our internal lot number, which is used to invoice the client for the consignment of fresh produce. The SSCC number is then used to reconcile the payment back to the farmer.

Fruits receives electronic information from different depots throughout the logistics chain. The electronic files show the location codes and relevant SSCC’s, to track the movement and location of the produce.

Using all the reference numbers Fruits is able to trace any produce to the production unit from where it was supplied. Fruits can also give all the relevant detail (date of packing, fruit spec etc.) and movement of the pallet throughout the logistics chain, from the farm to the destination port.

Quality Traceability

Although Fruits has some of the industries top end suppliers, the fruit and vegetables that they supply are strictly monitored by the Quality department.

Our quality department already inspects the quality of the fruit and vegetables on the farms before it is supplied, and provides technical assistance to our suppliers on request. All our suppliers are HACCP accredited and adheres to strict guidelines for the use of pesticides.

Each farmer is supplied with a detailed marketing plan and packing guide before their season begins.

When our suppliers’ season starts, they will submit samples for MRL testing, with the start of each new cultivar. Fruits uses an accredited lab to analyze the samples and the quality department monitors the results.

Periodic pack house inspections are done that monitors the quality and the packaging and the relevant information is conveyed to the farmer, as well as to our marking department. This ensures that the produce is packed in the correct packaging for the correct market.

In some instances we have cold store inspections, to ensure that there were no progressive defects. Fruits will periodically have a quality inspector present with the loading of containers, to ensure that the produce is handled according to industry protocol.

Our quality department will monitor the progress of the vessels and will request a quality report from the overseas (or local) client within 48 hours after arrival. The quality reports are then saved on our website, so each supplier is able to monitor his own arrival quality. They are notified by sms when a new report is available. Quality reports are also e-mailed or faxed to the suppliers on request.

In the case of bad arrival quality an independent surveyor is appointed and a complete survey report is requested to determine the extent of the problem as well as the cause.

All quality information is captured on our logistical system en the information is instantly available to our suppliers as well as our clients.