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

Technology & Standards: RFID: Radio Frequency Identification

Radio Frequency ID (RFID) - in simple terms - is a hands-free technology that uses a combination of a radio transmitter and a reader to receive radio frequency energy used to convey information on that item. The simple components used for an RFID transmission are a chip and antenna affixed to a tag, power to generate a signal, and a reader to read the signal.

RFID has received a lot of attention from the food industry due to a number of large retailers and governmental agencies requiring their suppliers to use RFID tags on their pallets and cases. As a result, PMA took a number of steps to lead the produce industry in the education and awareness of RFID.

• PMA created RFID in the Produce Supply Chain to provide a basic education of RFID

PMA will continue its effort to keep the produce industry informed and educated on this important technology. Member participation in groups such as PMA's RFID Issue Committee, whose mission is to identify issues facing RFID today, will allow their organizations to stay informed of the latest developments and issues of RFID in the produce industry. This committee will give their company a voice in the development of standards that will be used when implementing RFID.

PMA is also working with the RFID standards body, EPCglobal by participating on the EPCglobal Alliance to ensure the produce industry has a voice into the RFID standards development process. The EPCglobal Alliance is a committee of trade association executives that work with EPCglobal to ensure their members and their vertical industries are appropriately represented within the RFID community. EPCglobal US is the standards organization under the auspices of GS1 - U.S. (formerly the Uniform Code Council) and is the founder of the EPC (Electronic Product Code).