Proposed Global PLU System Advances
ce Look-Up Working Group has agreed on a structural outline to establish an International Federation for Produce Coding. The first task of the new organization would be to introduce a global standard for the use of PLU numbers. Attendees from the 14 participating produce organizations -- represented in the United States by the Produce Marketing Association, Newark, Del. -- also agreed that, effective Nov. 1, they will not assign any new PLU numbers as the global system is developed. The group also recommended that a representative from EAN International -- the Brussels-based, standards-setting organization -- also sit on the panel. Officials said they expect to have a global system in place as early as May 31, 2002.
More Retailers Boycott Mushroom Firm
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Safeway has become the latest retailer to announce it is dropping Pictsweet Mushroom Farms, Salem, Ore., from select stores. The retailer joins Fred Meyer, a division of Kroger Co., Cincinnati, in boycotting the company, which is embroiled in a battle with union organizers pressing for better working conditions there. Last month, Oregon state regulators imposed fines totaling $7,475 on Pictsweet for safety violations, including a forklift accident that resulted in the loss of a worker's hand. Safeway, which has 113 stores in its Portland division, will no longer carry the brand at its Oregon and southwest Washington stores. Earlier, Fred Meyer, which accounted for 15% of the Salem farm's business with more than 120 stores in five Western states, and local chain Roth's, said they would boycott the mushrooms. The union's request to Albertson's, Boise, Idaho, to join the boycott have been unsuccessful.
Blue Book Launches Web Service
CAROL STREAM, Ill. -- Blue Book Services/Produce Reporter Co. announced the launch of its new Web service interface, designed and developed by Buyproduce. The new interface will allow wholesaler customers to retrieve time-sensitive data from virtually any application, according to officials with the credit and marketing information provider. This interface will be publicly registered with Universal Discovery Description and Integration, and will have the supporting Application Programming Interface and integration documentation, to allow remote applications access to the Web service with limited human intervention, they said.
