Name: OrchardSnacks Global Produce Traceback & Cold Chain Dataset
Creator: OrchardSnacks
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Question 1

How old is the fresh apple I buy at the grocery store?

Accepted Answer

In the United States, domestic apples purchased in spring or early summer (April through July) were typically harvested the previous September or October—making them 6 to 10 months old. They are preserved in airtight Ultra-Low Oxygen (ULO) controlled-atmosphere storage rooms where oxygen levels are reduced to ~1% at 33°F (0.5°C), which suspends cellular respiration and prevents staling.

Question 2

Where do fresh blueberries come from during winter in North America?

Accepted Answer

During North American winter (November through March), fresh blueberries are predominantly imported from the coastal desert valleys of Peru (Chavimochic and Ica) and central Chile. They travel via refrigerated container ships with modified-atmosphere packaging (high CO2) to preserve freshness over the 14 to 20-day ocean voyage into ports like Philadelphia and Long Beach.

Question 3

What does the 4 or 5-digit number on fruit stickers mean?

Accepted Answer

The number on produce stickers is a Price Look-Up (PLU) code managed by the International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS). Standard conventionally grown produce uses a 4-digit code (e.g., 4011 for bananas, 4046 for small avocados). A 5-digit code starting with 9 designates USDA Certified Organic produce (e.g., 94011 for organic bananas).

Question 4

How do bananas travel across oceans without turning brown and over-ripening?

Accepted Answer

Bananas are harvested completely dark green and transported in specialized refrigerated ships locked at exactly 56.5°F (13.6°C) in low-oxygen air. At this exact temperature, the fruit enters metabolic stasis without suffering chilling injury. Once the ship arrives at domestic ports, the fruit is placed into pressurized ripening rooms and exposed to minute amounts of ethylene gas to trigger uniform ripening right before store delivery.

Question 5

How does OrchardSnacks trace fruit journeys from a grocery sticker?

Accepted Answer

OrchardSnacks maps the journey of retail produce by combining three simple clues—the PLU code, country of origin, and your purchase location—with public USDA Specialty Crops volume reports, maritime shipping records, and regional grocery distribution networks to identify the likely orchards, ports, transit routes, and food miles.

Highbush Blueberries

Registered Produce PLU Codes

Global Harvest Relay & Seasonal Availability

Post-Harvest Cold Chain Science

The Desert Irrigation Miracle That Replaced Air Freight