How is my choice of a labeling system impacted by Country of Origin Label requirements?
As you know, Congress has required that all produce sold in the United States have a label identifying its country of origin no later than October, 2006. You have one year to come into compliance. Depending upon how the statute is interpreted, you may not be allowed to sell any fruit without a label. • Will my customers buy etched fruit? Consumer surveys show that people prefer etched fruit to fruit with adhesive labels. Durand-Wayland, Inc. is working hard to inform the public about the advantages of etched fruit. We also work directly with retailers to provide colorful point of sale displays and other consumer education material that help with the marketing of etched fruit. • Why do I care about traceability? Shelf life is important to you because produce is perishable and it doesn’t come with a “use by” date. With packer/grower codes, you can quickly identify who is providing you with first quality fruit and who is not. So can your customers. • Will I pay more for etched fruit? Obvi
