Building Food Traceability for FSMA 204 Compliance

Behind every piece of fresh produce is a complex supply chain working to ensure food reaches store shelves safely, and new traceability requirements are changing how that work gets done.

In this episode, Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl chat with Christina Herrick, Produce Editor at The Packer, to discuss the realities of food traceability, the impact of FSMA 204 on the fresh produce industry, and why compliance requires far more than simply meeting a deadline.

Christina shares why produce presents unique traceability challenges compared to other food categories, how labor shortages, evolving regulations, and fragmented supply chains complicate implementation, and why organizations of every size need to begin preparing now. She also explains why successful traceability depends on better collaboration, standardized data sharing, and understanding the unique needs of every participant across the supply chain.

This is more than a regulatory requirement. It is an industry-wide effort to improve food safety, strengthen consumer confidence, and build more connected supply chains that can respond quickly when it matters most.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why FSMA 204 is transforming food traceability across the fresh produce industry

• The biggest challenges growers, distributors, and retailers face as they prepare for compliance

• How standardized data sharing can improve food safety, recalls, and supply chain visibility

Things to listen for:
(00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain

(03:06) Why consumers rarely see the complexity behind food safety

(05:00) How produce traceability differs from other food categories

(08:35) Why traceability matters during recalls and outbreaks

(10:01) Why compliance is not a light switch

(11:07) How labor costs and regulations affect traceability investments

(15:16) Why many companies don't know where to begin

(17:00) The unique challenges facing smaller growers and distributors

(20:18) Why every produce operation approaches traceability differently

(22:18) Finding the right motivation for industry adoption

(23:17) Why GS1 standards help simplify data sharing

(24:35) Christina's favorite technology and what she wants to learn next

Connect with GS1 US:
Our website - www.gs1us.org
GS1 US on LinkedIn

Connect with the guest:
Christina Herricks on LinkedIn
Visit The Packer at https://www.thepacker.com/