Fresh produce traceability labels
The right label on the right carton is the cheapest part of traceability – and a wrong label is one of the most expensive mistakes a packer makes.
Farmsoft · Updated 25 October 2026 · 2 min read
Key points
- Case: GTIN + lot (PTI) or retailer format. Pallet: SSCC in GS1-128.
- Mandatory content usually includes product name, class, origin and any treatments such as waxing.
- Labels should be selected automatically from the customer and product, not by the operator.
Label types
| Unit | Identifier | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer unit | GTIN (EAN-13 / UPC-A), PLU sticker | Retail point of sale |
| Case / carton | GTIN + lot in GS1-128 (PTI), voice pick code | Case-level traceability, receiving |
| Pallet | SSCC (18 digits) in GS1-128 | Logistics, ASN matching, DC receiving |
| Container / shipment | SSCC, consignment references | Export and import |
Mandatory information
Requirements vary by country and market, but fresh produce generally must show the name of the food, its class, country of origin (or a more local place of provenance where omitting it would mislead) and often the variety. Treatments must be declared – waxed fruit, for example. Descriptions such as "organic" must be accurate. For pre-packed food the information goes on the pack; for loose produce it goes on a notice with the food.
Producepak
Fresh produce inventory, QC, traceability, packing and shipping in one app.
GS1 guidance
GS1's fresh fruit and vegetable traceability guideline sets out the use of GTINs, GLNs and SSCCs, data capture and data sharing (EPCIS, GDSN) to support recall, regulatory compliance and market access. Its consumer-unit labelling guidance covers barcodes, data carriers and human-readable text.
Retailer formats
Producepak includes label designs for PTI, Walmart, Woolworths, Coles, ALDI, Tesco and IGA formats; custom designs can be added by your consultant or your own team. Each customer and product is linked to its label, so the correct label prints automatically.
Frequently asked questions
What is an SSCC?
A Serial Shipping Container Code: an 18-digit GS1 number identifying one logistic unit, usually a pallet, encoded in a GS1-128 barcode.
What is a PTI voice pick code?
A four-digit code derived from GTIN, lot and pack date, printed on PTI case labels so warehouse staff can confirm picks by voice.
Sources and further reading
Related Farmsoft pages
Related articles
Traceability, QC & complianceA low-cost traceability solution for fresh produce A low-cost fresh produce traceability solution: what it must cover, PTI and GS1 labels, FSMA 204 and SFCR requirements, and how to implement it quickly.
Traceability, QC & complianceFresh produce traceability system How a fresh produce traceability system works: barcode lots, one-up one-down records, farm-to-fork tracing, recalls, audits and crop-specific traceability.
Traceability, QC & complianceFresh produce compliance: 8 steps to implementation Implement fresh produce compliance in 8 steps: systems, traceability, records, audits, corrective action, sanitation, training and temperature monitoring.
Packhouse operationsIntegrating packing machines with your packhouse software Connect graders, weighers and packing machines to Producepak: collect packed units, cartons, pallets and batch times automatically and print traceability labels.
See Producepak running on your produce
Watch the short video, then book a live demonstration with a fresh produce consultant.