The importance of produce traceability has been made devastatingly clear in recent years by well publicized incidents of illness, and even death, due to contaminated lettuce, spinach, cantaloupes and more. While officials in such cases spend weeks tracing the contamination to its source, all growers, wholesalers and retailers suffer market consequences.

The majority (80 percent) of supply chain managers do not see their supply chain as an enabler of business strategies within their organisation, according to a recent survey.

The company turns a Frito-Lay plant into a multi-project "learning lab," as it seeks to offset environmental impacts related to water, energy and waste generation.

A conversation with Richard Sawyer, vice president of supply chain with Dole Fresh Vegetables.