January 12, 2009
Van Groningen & Sons Delivers Traceable Watermelons using HarvestMark®
Grower of popular "Yosemite Fresh" label watermelons becomes
first in California to deploy HarvestMark
Redwood City, Calif. - YottaMark, Inc., the
leader in traceability and authentication solutions, today
announced that Van Groningen & Sons, Inc. will begin delivering
traceable watermelons using the HarvestMark® traceability solution
for the 2009 harvest season. The traceable watermelons will begin
hitting select retail stores across the U.S. in June 2009. With
over eighty years in the farming business, Van Groningen & Sons
will be the first watermelon grower and distributor in California
to deploy HarvestMark.
"We are excited to be the first watermelon grower and shipper in
California to deploy HarvestMark, and bring traceability
capabilities to our retail partners and consumers," said Ryan Van
Groningen, sales manager, Van Groningen & Sons. "Now, if people
have questions about our watermelons - when and where it was
harvested or if they want to learn more about our farming
practices, we have a simple and dynamic way to deliver that
information instantly."
The HarvestMark solution gives items, cases, trays, and pallets a
unique identity that links to harvest, packing, and supply chain
information. The HarvestMark portal provides instant traceback, and
easy access to distribution, quality, and food safety information.
HarvestMark codes can be scanned or typed in at a secure Web portal
to access up-to-date product information. Buyers, distributors and
customers can provide direct feedback on product quality and time
to market, which can be correlated to the farm, crew, and date. Van
Groningen & Sons can also use the HarvestMark solution to offer
enhanced traceability and supply chain management services to
retail buyers - further differentiating their products and customer
service.
"The HarvestMark label provides a way for consumers to quickly
check to see if the Van Groningen & Sons watermelon they just
purchased at the store is fresh and safe, where it was grown.
Furthermore, the label helps the watermelon grower distinguish its
products and confidently and effectively communicate to the public
that their products are safe in an event of a recall situation,"
said J. Scott Carr, president and CEO, YottaMark. "Van Groningen
& Sons' adoption of HarvestMark will extend the HarvestMark
traceability to key produce buying communities on the west coast
and we look forward to working with the talented team at Van
Groningen & Sons to launch a successful traceability
program."
Watermelons are often removed from their bins or cases at the point
of sale, and can easily become comingled. In the event of a food
safety concern, this comingling and loss of case-level
identification can mean a much wider negative impact on the
industry than necessary - and can even lead to the wrong supplier
being targeted for a recall. Labels with HarvestMark Codes enable
each watermelon to carry a unique identifier that is easy to trace,
and delivers new levels of information via a secure portal to
anyone interested in learning more about the item. In an event that
the watermelons are
removed, repacked or mixed with other batches at the store-level,
it would continue to carry a unique identifier for easy
trace-back.
Designed for field- or line-packed produce, HarvestMark is a
complete traceability solution. It accommodates a wide range of
workflows with an open-platform for seamless integration with
existing systems. Fully compatible with GS1 standards and the
Produce Traceability Initiative, HarvestMark supports a wide range
of packaging formats making it quick to deploy with no interruption
to business operations.
To learn more about HarvestMark, visit www.harvestmark.com or call 1-866-76-TRUST (or
+1.650.264.6200).
About Van Groningen & Sons
Van Groningen & Sons, Inc. is a continuation of a farming
business that was started in California in 1922 by Henry Van
Groningen Sr. The business is family-owned and operated by sons,
grandsons, in-laws, and by workers that have been with the family
for over 44 years. The farming operation now consists of growing
sweet corn, watermelons, pumpkins, squash, alfalfa, almonds and
walnuts. Van Groningen & Sons has also been growing watermelons
for over 68 years. More information available at www.vgandsons.com.
About YottaMark, Inc.
YottaMark, Inc. provides the most secure and simple to deploy
unit-level brand security and real-time channel intelligence
solution in the market. YottaMark's powerful technology platform
delivers effective product authentication and traceability to help
brand owners increase consumer trust, build new levels of channel
intelligence, and drive sales. HarvestMark®, the fresh food
traceability solution from YottaMark, speeds response to suspected
recall events, and delivers valuable product information and
marketing programs across the supply chain, all the way to the
consumer.
YottaMark's security codes are now protecting millions of
dollars of branded goods. Leading companies in the fresh produce,
electronics, and consumers packaged goods industries rely on
YottaMark to increase security in the channel and inspire trust in
their brands.
YottaMark is a privately held company headquartered in Redwood
City, Calif. More information can be found at www.YottaMark.com.
Press contact:
Miz Nakajima
mnakajima@YottaMark.com
503-997-6045
