United Fresh Establishes Supply Chain Division

Following two years of hardships caused by food-borne illness outbreaks traced to fresh produce and resulting in an increased focus on traceability and food safety, the United Fresh Produce Association is focusing on supply chain and logistics issues.

The association’s Supply Chain Technology and Logistics Program will be headed by industry veteran Dan Vache, formerly vice president of food sales at Sensitech, Beverly, Mass.

Vache starts as United Fresh’s vice president of supply chain management Jan. 19 in Redmond, Wash., according to the Washington, D.C.-based association.

“The emphasis will be on supply chain management that includes cold-chain controls and traceability,” Vache said.

The program, in the works for more than a year, is designed to help member companies in all areas of supply chain management, including transportation, technologies for traceability, facilities management, and packing needs, said Tom Stenzel, United Fresh president and chief executive officer.

“There is no one in produce that is helping member companies” on these issues, Stenzel said.

Stenzel said the program wasn’t created exclusively out of food-safety concerns but rather to help members trim costs associated with transporting commodities and finished products. Stenzel said he expects it to be up and running in the next six months.

Vache said he plans to meet with United Fresh members about their needs and create a cross-commodity platform designed for better efficiency in the supply chain. Vache said he also wants to educate United Fresh members on the program through more individual training and conference demonstrations.

Vache said he plans to work closely with United Fresh’s 30-member Supply Chain and Logistics Council to create standardized working practices members can fit to their businesses.

Source: The Packer