News & Information

Food Safety - 18 July 2018

All vegetables and herbs at PFresh that are sold either locally or exported to the EU or UK. These products in terms of our Food Standards and Regulations are able to be traced back to its heritage and location by means of various recorded identifications (lot numbers and batch numbers). There are different lot numbers or identification numbers used for trace ability using various dates, symbols and barcodes. The fresh produce is packed in packaging various types of units (punnets, boxes, crates etc.) on the farm or pack house. The boxes are marked clearly with the PUC (Production Unit Code) of the supplier and farm location. Once they pass rigid quality control checks they are transported via road to the main Johannesburg International Airport where the receive further local inspections and receive the pallet number or export codes. This is used in conjunction with the exporter codes to identify products as well as for item tracing and internal control. All 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 product specifications, as well as the date of inspection and whether the lot has been approved for export. The inspected products are then taken into a cold store facility for cooling and storage before boarding the plane for export.The products in cold store are all traced with grower and lot numbers, these are used to invoice the client for the consignment of fresh produce. The lot number is then used to reconcile the payment back to the farmer. The consignment note on a stock system and the relevant stock information is then electronically passed on.

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