Importer Continental Fresh adds case-level traceability

Continental Fresh LLC, a Miami importer, has fully implemented a case-level labeling and traceability system.

The company also plans to apply Produce Traceability Initiative-compliant labels on each of its cases of Atlas Fresh-branded cucumbers and winter squash, according to a news release.

The recent Mexican cucumbers salmonella outbreak as well as announcement of the Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act foreign supplier and third-party audit rules prompted Continental Fresh to reconfirm its food safety commitment, officials said in the release.

“We expect to be the only offshore cucumber importers in the country to have PTI case-level tagging originating at our farms in Honduras,” Albert Perez, president, said in the release. “We are also implementing this on all of our retail and process butternut and spaghetti squashes.”

The Honduras cucumber season typically begins in late December and ships through mid-March, while butternut and spaghetti squashes are usually available January through April.