• Product Identification Standards
• Automated Data Capture
• E-Commerce
• Data Synchronization
• Traceability

Technology & Standards

The Industry’s Leading Source For Everything You Need To Know About The Latest Technologies

Technology is always changing. The one constant is the need to keep up. The PMA Technology & Standards Department is the industry's leading source on technologies: Data Standardization, Data Synchronization, Barcodes, Pallet/Case/Item Marking, RFID, GTIN, E-Commerce, and Traceability.

PMA has a full-time staff dedicated to emerging technologies. We’re working to improve supply chain efficiencies, reduce errors, and to make technology work even harder for you.

Produce Initiative Web Site

A web site dedicated to the Produce Traceability Initiative has been designed to help the industry maximize the effectiveness of current traceback procedures, while developing a standardized industry approach to enhance the speed and efficiency of traceability systems for the future. Please refer to www.producetraceability.org.

GS1 DataBar

Recently, in an effort to collect important information on the new GS1 DataBar bar code (formerly RSS), PMA surveyed all U.S. retailer members. PMA supplier members asked for a list of retailers who will accept DataBar, regardless of current implementation initiatives. Please refer to the GS1 DataBar section under the Product Identification Standards page for additional information.

DataBar Online

With the implementation of DataBar on the horizon, this simple tool will allow for data synchronization of item level GTINs with PLU codes. DataBar Online was created to allow sellers of produce to communicate their item numbers used inside of the DataBar (the GTIN) to their buyers, and to allow buyers to download the information into their Point-of-Sale systems to scan the DataBar on loose/bulk items. Retailers can also search for those suppliers who supply a specific commodity.

Produce Traceability Initiative vs. GS1 DataBar

Due to the high volume of questions we have received on this matter, this document was created to address the differences between the Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) and the DataBar.

Produce Traceability Initiative – this is an industry-wide initiative aimed specifically at creating a whole-chain traceability process that the industry can use when tracking product up and down the supply chain. The PTI only addresses CASE level traceability and has no instruction for ITEM level marking at this time. The details of the PTI can be found on the initiative’s website at www.producetraceability.org. A quick summary of the key points for the PTI are as follows:

• PTI has a specific list of milestones and timelines (see www.producetraceability.org)
• PTI requires a GTIN for cases and the Lot/Batch #. These are two separate fields.
• PTI requires the use of the 128 barcode on the case.
• PTI does NOT require anything at the ITEM level
• PTI recommends using a standard case label to address Milestone #4 and  #5 (see website)
• PTI recommends the use of a “Hybrid Pallet Label” to address Milestone #6 (see website)

ALL other questions can most likely be answered via the PTI Toolkit that can be found on the PTI website (www.producetraceability.org).

DataBar – any communication related to the DataBar is unrelated to the PTI. The DataBar is the name of a barcode that can fit on the same sticker that is used for the PLU on loose/bulk produce.

• The DataBar has nothing to do with the CASE
• The DataBar is only used for ITEMS that currently have a PLU sticker affixed
• Those using the DataBar require the use of a company-specific Company Prefix issued by GS1 (www.gs1.org).
• Those using the DataBar should not use the generic Company Prefix 033383.
• The DataBar is a company by company project, and is not an industry-wide initiative
• The 14-digit GTIN used for the DataBar will begin with “00”.