How the Traceability Lot Code is assigned at initial packing and flows from farm through retail.

FDA FSMA Supply Chain Example, Produce / Fresh Cucumbers (November 2022 + March 2025 update)

– Farm, Growing CTE: KDEs include location description of the field (city, state, country, or GPS coordinates), commodity and variety, harvest date, and quantity.
– Cooling Operation, Cooling CTE: KDEs include location where cooling occurred, commodity and variety, quantity, and date of cooling.
– Initial Packer, Initial Packing CTE: This is where the TLC is assigned for produce. KDEs include: TLC, TLC source (packing facility location), commodity and variety, lot code, date of initial packing, quantity, and growing location description.
– Distribution Center, Receiving CTE: Must maintain receiving KDEs including TLC received, TLC source, product description, quantity, date of receipt, and name/location of previous source (the packer).
– Distribution Center, Shipping CTE: Must transmit TLC, TLC source, product description, quantity shipped, ship date, and name/location of subsequent recipient.
– Retail, Receiving CTE: Must maintain receiving KDEs linked to the packer’s TLC.