Suppliers and retail buyers of loose produce items can now take advantage of two new tools to aid their transition to DataBar item-level coding and its category management benefits, according to a news release.

Available through the Produce Marketing Association, DataBar Online is an online portal and central database that enables produce suppliers to link Global Trade Item Numbers to their PLU numbers and upload this information online. Retailers can then access the central database and download the appropriate GTINs into their point-of-sale systems.

The DataBar Implementation Guide explains DataBar and provides step-by-step instruction for obtaining a company prefix from the standards organization GS1, assigning GTINs to items and communicating this information to buyers, the release said.

The DataBar Implementation Guide is available free to all industry members at www.pma.com/cig/tech/rss.cfm. The DataBar Online utility is accessible free to PMA members via http://sites.pma.com/databaronline/. Non-members can purchase access DataBar Online for a one-time fee of $500.

PMA will host a workshop on transitioning to DataBar Oct. 3 at the Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition in Anaheim, Calif.

E-mail Tom Burfield