Requirements for Produce Crate Labels

Labels are a crucial part of the logistics industry, ensuring that goods arrive at the right locations at the right time. The food industry relies on labels when transporting large quantities of goods to ensure they reach customers before they become spoiled. This is particularly important with fresh produce, which often has a much shorter shelf life than pre-packaged food.

Why are labelling produce crates important?

Having an effective labelling system for fresh produce is important to ensure the goods are trackable throughout their journey and arrive with customers promptly.

When fresh produce is picked off a farm, it is sent to a packing shed who then sorts and labels them on behalf of the farm and sends them in large plastic crates to supermarkets and greengrocers. The labels are then removed and the crates are returned to the packing shed to be used again.

Labelling these crates gives shopkeepers and distributors the ability to track their produce. The removable labels also allow the crates to be reused several times over, unlike a cardboard box that is discarded immediately. This reduces the environmental impact of the transport process.

Thermal Labels can print labels for fresh produce crates that include barcodes for easy tracking.

Labelling requirements for fresh produce crates

Unpackaged food labelling requirements differ depending on the packing shed they came from. However, they will generally contain the:

• Name of the product(s) inside
• Weight of the crate
• Person responsible for packing it
• Date of packing
• Tracking barcode

Additionally, the labels are colour-coded in either pink or white, according to the requirements of each distributor.

Case study: Woolworths

In addition to the labelling requirements for fresh produce outlined by food safety authorities, individual clients may have their own specific processes which need to be followed, which will differ depending on the organisation. Woolworths outlines the following in its guide to unpackaged food labelling requirements.

Woolworths requires basic information to be displayed on a Transfer of Equipment docket for any crates or pallets of produce that are delivered to its supermarkets. This includes a Produce Account number, a Woolworths Purchase Order number, the date of the transaction and correct pallet type and quantity data.

To satisfy its proof of delivery requirements, Woolworths requires two copies of both the Invoice (or Delivery Docket) and the Pallet and Crate Transfer Docket to accompany the shipment.

Failure to supply the transfer of equipment docket may result in the transfer being withheld. If no Transfer of Equipment docket is supplied, Woolworths’ Distribution Centre may request copies of the proof of delivery paperwork.

The vendor must transfer the equipment within 7 days of the order being created. Any claims for withheld shipments have a 6 month window for investigation, after which further correspondence is not accepted. 

Conclusion

Labelling requirements for fresh produce crates allow for information to be distributed about their contents. If you require more information or to order labels for fresh produce crates, contact Thermal Labels today.

Where to find more information

Label printing resources for your business:

• Bartender labelling software
• Recommended label printers from Zebra and Toshiba