SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING ORIGINS OF PRODUCE

• US 20090242631A1
• Filed: 04/01/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VirtualOne LLC
• Original Assignee: VirtualOne LLC
• Inventors: Bolanos, Minor, Wishnatzki, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,878,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining

Abstract

An application for a method for tracking produce delivered to a consumer includes providing a field box and a plurality of containers for holding produce, the containers fitting within the field box. A master label that has a master label barcode and a plurality of sub-labels is provided. The master label barcode has a sequence of digital values; the sequence of digital values uniquely distinguishes each master label. Each sub label has a sub-label identifier related to or equivalent to the master label bar-code. The master label is affixed to the field box and each of the sub-labels from the master label is affixed to one of the containers. The containers are then filled with produce and placed into the field box. The master label barcode is captured with a scanner and either now or at a later time, the captured master label barcode and an identification of the origin of the produce are transferred to a server where they are storing in a barcode tracking database.

Claims

1. A system for tracking produce delivered to a consumer, the system comprising:

a field box;

a plurality of containers for holding the produce, the containers fitting within the field box for shipment;

a master label affixed to the field box, the master label having a master label barcode and the master label having a plurality of sub-labels, each sub label having a sub-label identifier, the sub-label identifier being related to the master label bar-code, the master label barcode having a sequence of digital values, the sequence of digital values uniquely distinguishing the master label;

a server;

a scanner;

software running on the scanner for capturing a value of the master label barcode and a produce origin;

software running on the scanner for transferring the value of the master label barcode and the produce origin to the server; and

software running on the server for receiving the value of the master label barcode and the produce origin and software running on the server for storing the value of the master label barcode and the produce origin in a barcode tracking database.

2. The system for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 1, wherein the sub-label identifier includes the sequence of digital values.

3. The system for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 1, wherein the sub-label identifier includes the sequence of digital values along with additional digital values uniquely identifying each of the sub-label identifier.

4. The system for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 1, further comprising an employee badge associated with a produce picker, the employee badge having an employee badge barcode;

wherein the employee badge barcode is scanned and associated with the master label barcode.

5. The system for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 4, wherein the produce origin is determined based upon the employee badge barcode.

6. The system for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 1, wherein the produce origin is determined based upon a parameter stored in the scanner.

7. The system for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 1, wherein the produce origin is scanned and stored in the scanner.

8. The system for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 1, wherein the master label has a sticky backing and is affixed to the field box.

9. The system for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 8, wherein the sub-labels are peel-and-stick labels removably affixed to the master label and the sub-labels are peeled from the master label and affixed to the containers.

10. A method for tracking produce delivered to a consumer, the method comprising:

providing a field box;

providing a plurality of containers for holding the produce, the containers fitting within the field box;

providing a master label, the master label having a master label barcode and the master label having a plurality of sub-labels, each sub label having a sub-label identifier, the sub-label identifier being related to the master label bar-code, the master label barcode having a sequence of digital values, the sequence of digital values uniquely distinguishing the master label;

affixing the master label to the field box;

peeling each of the sub-labels from the master label and affixing each of the sub-labels to one of the containers;

filling the containers with the produce;

placing the containers into the field box;

capturing the master label barcode with a scanner;

transferring the captured master label barcode and a produce origin to a server; and

receiving the captured master label barcode and the produce origin at the server and storing the captured master label barcode and the produce origin in a barcode tracking database.

11. The method for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 10, wherein the sub-label identifier includes the sequence of digital values.

12. The method for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 10, wherein the sub-label identifier includes the sequence of digital values along with additional digital values uniquely identifying each sub-label.

13. The method for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 10, further comprising:

scanning an employee badge barcode with the scanner from an employee badge associated with a produce picker; and

associating the employee badge barcode with the master label barcode.

14. The method for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 13, wherein the produce origin is determined based upon the employee badge barcode.

15. The method for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 10, wherein the produce origin is determined based upon a parameter stored in the scanner.

16. The method for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 10, further comprising:

scanning the produce origin into the scanner.

17. The method for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 10, further comprising:

accessing a feedback application through the internet;

entering the sub-label identifier into the feedback application; and

entering feedback data into the feedback application regarding the produce.

18. The method for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 10, further comprising:

accessing the captured master label barcode and the produce origin from barcode tracking database to determine the origin of produce, the produce having a health risk associated therewith.

19. A method for tracking produce delivered to a consumer, the method comprising:

providing a field box;

providing a plurality of clamshell containers for holding the produce, the clamshell containers fitting within the field box;

providing a master label, the master label having a master label barcode and the master label having a plurality of sub-labels, each sub label having a sub-label identifier, the sub-label identifier being related to the master label bar-code, the master label barcode having a sequence of digital values, the sequence of digital values uniquely distinguishing the master label;

affixing the master label to the field box;

peeling each of the sub-labels from the master label and affixing each of the sub-labels to one of the clamshell containers;

filling the clamshell containers with the produce;

placing the clamshell containers into the field box;

delivering the field box to a harvest manager;

capturing the master label barcode with a scanner;

capturing an employee badge barcode from an employee badge with the scanner, the employee badge associated with a produce picker;

transferring the captured master label barcode and the employee badge barcode to a server; and

receiving the captured master label barcode and the employee badge barcode at the server and storing the captured master label barcode and the employee badge barcode in a barcode tracking database.

20. The method for tracking produce delivered to a consumer of claim 19, further comprising:

storing a produce origin in the scanner; and

transferring the produce origin along with the captured master label barcode and the employee badge barcode to the server.