Belgian fruit cooperative Cooperatie Hoogstraten has deployed RAIN RFID technology across its strawberry supply chain, delivering full visibility from the moment crates leave the field through to arrival on retail shelves. The project represents one of the most comprehensive agricultural RFID implementations in European fresh produce to date.
Cooperatie Hoogstraten, based in the Antwerp province, coordinates more than 1,000 growers who collectively produce around 45,000 tonnes of strawberries each year. Managing that volume while maintaining strict food safety standards and minimising waste has always been a significant challenge. Traditional barcode-based tracking could not keep pace with the speed and scale of the operation, particularly during peak harvest months when throughput at the cooperative’s distribution centre reaches its highest levels.
The cooperative turned to RAIN RFID, selecting passive UHF tags operating in the 860-960 MHz range. Each reusable plastic crate used in the harvest and distribution process is fitted with an embedded RAIN RFID inlay. As crates move through the supply chain, fixed RFID readers at key waypoints capture tag data automatically, without requiring line-of-sight scanning or manual intervention.
At the farm level, growers register each crate as it is filled, linking the tag’s unique identifier to the specific plot, harvest date, and grower. When crates arrive at the cooperative’s central sorting and packing facility, portal-mounted readers log every inbound shipment in real time. The system tracks each crate through quality inspection, cold storage, and onward dispatch, building a complete digital record of the product’s journey.
This level of traceability has brought tangible improvements to food safety compliance. In the event of a quality concern or recall, Cooperatie Hoogstraten can now trace any batch back to the individual grower and harvest date within seconds rather than hours. That speed is critical when dealing with perishable goods where delays can mean the difference between a targeted withdrawal and a broad, costly recall.
The RFID deployment has also strengthened cold chain integrity. By correlating crate-level tracking data with temperature logs from the facility’s monitoring systems, the cooperative can verify that strawberries have remained within safe temperature ranges throughout handling and storage. Any break in the cold chain is flagged immediately, allowing staff to intervene before product quality is compromised.
From a sustainability perspective, the move to RFID-tagged reusable crates has reduced the cooperative’s reliance on single-use packaging. The system tracks crate lifecycles, flagging units that are due for cleaning or replacement and ensuring that the pool of reusable assets is managed efficiently. Fewer lost or unaccounted-for crates means less waste and lower replacement costs.
Retailers receiving Cooperatie Hoogstraten’s strawberries benefit from the system as well. Delivery verification is faster and more accurate, with RFID-enabled dock doors confirming shipment contents automatically on arrival. Stock accuracy at the store level has improved, and the digital traceability record gives retailers confidence in the provenance of the fruit they are selling to consumers.
The project demonstrates that RAIN RFID is well suited to the demands of fresh produce logistics, where speed, accuracy, and traceability are not optional extras but operational necessities. For Cooperatie Hoogstraten, the investment has delivered measurable gains in efficiency, food safety, and sustainability across the entire strawberry supply chain.
