What is a placeholder item?
Placeholder items, such as those seen for milk and produce, are virtual items. There are not pallets of the placeholder item number physically sitting in the NTFB warehouse. These items are for general categories of product and when placed on an order, they are filled with a qualifying item that is available in our inventory when the order is being picked. Since our inventory fluctuates frequently and some produce can have a shorter shelf life than others, we do not provide the option to select specific produce items.
Example: An agency places an order for one pallet of item 1000000895 (PRODUCE, FRUIT, FULL PALLET) to receive a full pallet of fruit. This item would be filled with a qualifying fruit item that we currently have on hand.
What type of placeholder items does NTFB currently use?
NTFB currently uses the following placeholder items:
Item Number | Description | Description 2 | Base Unit Of Measure |
---|---|---|---|
1000000890 | PRODUCE, VEGETABLE - REFRIGERATED, FULL PALLET | USE THIS ITEM TO ORDER FULL PALLET OF VEGETABLES | PALLET |
1000008820 | PRODUCE, VEGETABLE - NON-REFRIGERATED, FULL PALLET | TOMATOES, POTATOES, ONIONS, HARD SQUASH | PALLET |
1000000895 | PRODUCE, FRUIT, FULL PALLET | USE THIS ITEM TO ORDER FULL PALLET OF FRUIT | PALLET |
1000007530 | PRODUCE, 4 FOOT MIXED PALLET (MAX 2 PER ORDER) | 4 FT. PALLET OF AT LEAST 2 CASED PRODUCE ITEMS | PALLET |
1000008754 | PRODUCE, KITTED BAGS BY PALLET (48CS) - PLACEHOLDER | 15- 20 LB AVERAGE WEIGHT | PALLET |
1000008800 | PRODUCE, MIXED ASSORTED, FULL PALLET PLACEHOLDER | USE THIS ITEM TO ORDER FULL PALLET OF ASST. PRODUCE | PALLET |
1000010915 | PRODUCE, HELLO FRESH KIT NO PROTEIN, PLACEHOLDER | USE THIS ITEM TO ORDER FULL PALLET OF MEAL KITS | PALLET |
1000010328 | ASSORTED REFRIGE FOOD, FULL PALLET, PLACEHOLDER | ASSORTED DAIRY & OTHER REFRIGERATED ITEMS | PALLET |
1000011926 | MILK, REFRIGERATED ANY TYPE, PLACEHOLDER | USE THIS ITEM TO ORDER MILK | GALLON |
What type of items are on a pallet of item 1000008820 (PRODUCE, VEGETABLE - NON-REFRIGERATED, FULL PALLET)?
This pallet will only be filled with one of the following items:
- Tomatoes – any type
- Potatoes – any type (including sweet potatoes)
- Onions – any type
- Hard squash – not zucchini or summer squash
These items will not be used to fill the placeholder for item 1000000890 (PRODUCE, VEGETABLE - REFRIGERATED, FULL PALLET). Please see the produce placeholders quick reference guide below for more information.
What is the difference between “ASSORTED REFRIGE FOOD” (1000010328) and “PRODUCE, MIXED ASSORTED” (1000008800)?
These pallets are donated from our retail partners. The “ASSORTED REFRIGE FOOD” (1000010328) pallets are generally dairy items, while the “PRODUCE, MIXED ASSORTED” (1000008800) are produce items. Because these pallets vary greatly and contain an assortment of items, the specific quantities of any given item on a pallet will vary. This is a way to offer variety to our agencies that would otherwise be unobtainable. Like all retail donations, the expectation is that at least 80% of items on the pallet are in good condition to distribute. If you notice more than 20% spoilage, please refer to our Food Safety FAQs article. Please see the produce placeholders quick reference guide below for more information.
Produce Placeholders Quick-Reference Guide
What if I have too much of a particular item and cannot take any more?
If there is an item that you are already at capacity for, please add this information to the comments section of the checkout screen in Agency Express. If your order has already been released, please submit a ticket through the agency service desk letting our team know. These requests are considered short-term accommodations; please submit these requests on an order-by-order basis. Please be advised that while we will do our best to accommodate your request, we cannot make any guarantees regarding accommodations.
Is the expiration date on the item photo accurate for the items currently in the warehouse?
The photos available in Agency Express are general representations of the items in our warehouse. If there is any kind of date showing in the photo, please disregard it; this is not necessarily the date that will be on any product that is shipped out.
What should I do if I have questions about an item?
Please submit a ticket with as much information as possible regarding the item and your concerns. We will investigate and let you know our findings.
What should I do if the item photo in Agency Express doesn't match the description of the item?
If you come across any item with a photo that doesn't seem to match, please submit a ticket so we can take a look into it. Sometimes the incorrect photos accidentally get added to the wrong item and we don't catch it until it's brought to our attention. We thank you for your diligence!