watermelons

Texas-based Borders Melon Co. – the largest watermelon grower and shipper in North America – and Georgia-based Borders Melons East have today (19 February) joined the expanding list of watermelon growers deploying the HarvestMark traceability solution for the 2009 season.

Developed by YottaMark, the leader in traceability and authentication solutions, HarvestMark gives individual watermelons a unique identity that links to growing, harvest, packing, and supply chain information.

“Implementing HarvestMark will strengthen our well established food safety program as we continue our commitment delivering safe, healthy and delicious supply of watermelons year around,” said Nowell Borders, owner of Borders Melon Co., in a press statement.

“With HarvestMark, launching a traceability program has never been easier,” added Barry Plotnick, manager, Borders Melons East. “Traceability benefits the entire supply chain, and will play a key role in boosting overall consumer confidence and bringing new safeguard in food safety.”

The HarvestMark Codes associated with each product can be entered into a Web portal for instant trace-back and trace-forward. Growers, packers and shippers can use the HarvestMark solution to offer enhanced traceability and supply chain management services to their retail buyers and end consumers - further differentiating their products and customer service.

Other watermelon growers already using HarvestMark include Coosaw Farms, Grower’s Select, Melon 1, Mouzin, Premier and Sun State.

Today, nearly 150m produce products have been enabled with HarvestMark traceability, from berries and tomatoes to watermelons and peppers, among other items.