QR code traceability for fresh produce
A QR code turns a case, pallet or retail pack into a link to its own history. Buyers check provenance and quality in one scan; shoppers see where their food came from.
Where QR codes go
| Placement | Who scans | What they see |
|---|---|---|
| Pallet label | DC receiving, wholesaler | Pallet contents, lots, QC, loading photos |
| Case label | Retail store, food service | Lot, grower, pack date, quality |
| Bill of lading / invoice | Purchaser accounts and QA | Shipment record, PO match, documents |
| Retail pack | Shopper | Origin, freshness, brand story, feedback form |
GS1 Digital Link and Sunrise 2027
GS1 Digital Link writes GS1 identifiers – GTIN, batch/lot, expiry – into a standard web address inside a QR code. The same code can be read at checkout and by a consumer's phone. GS1 US's Sunrise 2027 goal is for retail point-of-sale systems to read 2D barcodes by the end of 2027, which makes lot-level data at checkout realistic.
CHAIN-TRACE codes already work with any phone camera, and Producepak prints them on traceability labels, BOLs and invoices automatically.
Good practice
- Print at least 2 cm × 2 cm with a quiet zone around the code; test on wet, waxed cartons
- Encode lot-level data, not just the product – a product-only code can't support a recall
- Keep the landing page fast and mobile-first: most scans happen in a cool room or a supermarket aisle
- Let the supplier control what each audience sees: purchasers get documents, consumers get the story
- Collect feedback and photos from the scan page – it is the cheapest QC channel you have
Questions
What is GS1 Digital Link?
A GS1 standard for encoding product identifiers such as GTIN, lot and expiry date as a web address inside a QR code, so one code works for both checkout scanners and consumer phones.
What is Sunrise 2027?
A GS1 US industry goal for retail point-of-sale scanners to read 2D barcodes, such as QR codes with GS1 Digital Link, by the end of 2027.
Do I need a GS1 QR code to use CHAIN-TRACE?
No. CHAIN-TRACE QR codes work today with any phone camera. GS1 Digital Link is a way to combine product identification and traceability in one code as retail scanners catch up.