On the Food Traceability List

Mango, papaya, guava — tropical tree fruits are on the FTL.

Complex import supply chains and outbreak history put tropical tree fruits on the Food Traceability List. Traceability across borders is challenging — but required.

FDA Food Traceability List Status
Tropical tree fruits on the FDA Food Traceability List include mango, papaya, mamey, guava, lychee, jackfruit, starfruit, and other tropical tree fruits. Full FSMA 204 traceability requirements apply.

Covered varieties

MangoPapayaGuavaLycheeJackfruitStarfruit (Carambola)MameyPassion FruitDragon FruitOther tropical tree fruits
Why this commodity is high-risk

Tropical tree fruits have been linked to Salmonella and Cyclospora outbreaks, with papayas being a repeat offender. The complex supply chains — often involving international growing, domestic importing, repacking, and multi-state distribution — make traceability especially challenging. When outbreaks occur, traceback across international borders can take weeks or months without proper records.

What you need to track

Critical Tracking Events

Events in the supply chain where you must capture traceability data:

1
Growing — farm or orchard location (including international)
2
Harvesting — when fruit was picked
3
Initial Packing — first packing for distribution
4
Receiving — when an importer or first US handler takes possession
5
Shipping — every transfer in the domestic supply chain

Key Data Elements

Data you must record at each tracking event:

Growing area location (GPS or farm identifier, including country)
Commodity and variety
Harvest date
Traceability Lot Code (TLC)
Quantity and unit of measure
Grower/packer name, address, and phone number
Ship-to location and recipient
SSCC for each pallet
Reference documents (BOL, PO, import records)

Who's buying tropical tree fruits — and what they expect

Major retailers have their own traceability requirements for tropical tree fruits, often stricter than the FDA's.

How FieldToFile helps tropical tree fruits growers

Track tropical fruits from international growing areas through domestic packing and shipping — growing area coordinates work globally.

PTI-compliant pallet tags for mango, papaya, guava, and other tropical fruits with proper variety codes and GS1-128 barcodes.

Handle receiving and repacking CTEs — record the incoming lot data and link it to your new TLC when you repack.

Partner packing for tropical fruit importers — pack under their brand with their GS1 data, attributable to their quota.

Instant traceback across the full domestic chain when a buyer or FDA needs to trace a lot.

The bottom line

Tropical tree fruits cross borders, change hands, and get repacked — creating traceability complexity that other commodities don't face. FieldToFile simplifies the domestic side of that equation: compliant labels, lot tracking, and audit-ready records from the moment fruit enters your packhouse.

Ship tropical tree fruits with confidence

Your first truckload is on us — up to 56 pallets, fully compliant. No credit card.