Leveraging Technology to Address COVID-19 Supply Imbalances

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to test the U.S. and create entirely new patterns among shoppers and the retailers that serve them, Salt Lake City-based ReposiTrak has stepped in with technology to help sort out intermittent food supply imbalances and prevent waste.

ReposiTrak's new online platform, FoodSourceUSA, can facilitate the redistribution of excess perishable food products to parties that can make use of them. Now providers of fresh meat, produce and dairy products can connect with food banks, pantries and charitable groups serving those in need, along with a network of government agencies that will reimburse the providers fairly.

“As one of the largest online networks of suppliers, processors, distributors and retailers in the world, ReposiTrak has the reach and ability to bring the parties to the table, and the proven and highly scalable technology to support this urgent need," said ReposiTrak Chairman and CEO Randy Fields. "So when we were approached by agencies in the government to see how we could help, we didn’t hesitate to step in and help fill the void.”

Fields also said his company was motivated to act after seeing news that farmers and fresh food providers were "dumping milk and plowing under crops, while people in our country are worried about their next meal.” Moreover, he points out that the existing network that normally serves food banks and pantries is primarily set up for donations of excess shelf-stable products, such as canned and dry goods.

Fields added, "We urgently need a system to address the perishables sector, where we must provide fair compensation to the suppliers of fresh food items, to keep these companies and producers viable for the long run.”

Earlier this month, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) also made efforts to leverage technology to aid food producers in moving their product. PMA and iTradeNetwork announced a partnership to make the electronic iTradeMarketplace platform free to PMA members for six months. iTradeMarketplace is a partner discovery, matching and transacting service that allows buyers and suppliers in the supply chain to connect, establish business relationships and potentially transact sales.

Interested parties can find out more at the FoodSourceUSA's website.