Where Does Your Food Come From? There's an App for That
By Danielle Miller, GalTime.com
It's an all too familiar scenario. You're perusing the aisles of the grocery store, checking off items on your list, when you find yourself in the produce section. A montage of healthy and tasty meal ideas fill your head. You could try out that great new salad idea your friend emailed you, or that hearty soup you sampled at the holiday office party. But the closer you get to the vegetable display, the more uncertain you become.
Are these veggies fresh? Are they organic? Are they safe? The label on the lettuce says 'Ready to Eat' but is it really? Where was this lettuce grown? What measures were taken to ensure it is safe to feed your family? Is there a healthier choice on a shelf nearby that you just haven't noticed (and, if so, would you even be able to recognize it)?
Before you throw your hands up, out of frustration, and head for the frozen food aisle - why not check your smartphone? It is possible to do a background check on your fruits and veggies… well, yes, there's an app for that!
Related: 5 Food Facts that May Freak You Out
HarvestMark Traceability App available for the iPhone provides a plethora of information about the food available at your local grocery story or market, including grower or supplier origin, how the produce was shipped, as well as nutritional information. The HarvestMark app also provides you with additional information on the food you are thinking of purchasing, all available almost instantly by scanning the QR codes located on food labels:
Food Safety Notification: Customers can rely on this feature to receive updates on a food's safety status to provide an immediate line of communication to the shopper in the event of a recall
Trace Food: To trace food, shoppers simply download the free HarvestMark App for iPhone, look for the 16-digit HarvestMark code on participating fruit, vegetable and poultry brands, and scan or type the code to instantly retrieve harvest information specific to the package of food they're holding
"Talk to the Farmer": Shoppers can ask questions and give feedback to the people who grow and sell their food using this feature, which connects them with the source of their food
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