Ballantine produce rolls out RFID for produce tracking

Ballantine Produce is deploying an RFID solution from Manhattan Associates and Although the Sanger, Calif.-based company isn't yet required to comply with any RFID mandates, it has worked closely with other retailers and suppliers to become RFID capable.

Ballantine will use Printronix SmartLine 5000e RFID printers in its distribution centers. The company has begun deploying the technology at its primary packing facility in Reedley, Calif., and has already begun the process of gaining a competitive advantage through actual RFID product shipments and data evaluation, as well as further technology assessments for internal uses.

By deploying Manhattan Associates' RFID-enabled supply chain execution and optimization solutions, Ballantine hopes to increase order accuracy and inventory visibility, and reduce operational costs.

The company deployed its pilot system in May, only three months after deciding to move forward with RFID, and almost a month ahead of schedule. Manhattan Associates acted as systems integrator.

In early product assessment testing of the tags on reusable plastic containers (RPCs) carrying peaches, representatives from Manhattan Associates worked with Ballantine to find the optimal reader antenna and tag placements until it was able to successfully read between 40 and 45 RPCs for each 55-RPC pallet load.

The company is using the same tag placement and reader configuration for the pilot project. David Silva, director of IT at Ballantine, reports that the company was reading a majority of the RPC tags during the first days of the pilot.

The pilot was carried out over the summer, and will be extended to include other products, such as grapes and imported Chilean fresh fruit. Eventually, Ballantine will deploy an active RFID system in which temperature sensors linked to battery-operated RFID tags are used to log the temperature history of produce from the time it is picked to the time it reaches a retailer.

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