A method and apparatus which facilitates the application of GPS or other
location-specific information directly to discrete units of food
products. In one embodiment, a tractor pulls a harvesting apparatus which
facilitates not only the harvesting and packaging of discrete food
product units but also the application of location-specific time-stamped
data directly onto the food product units or their packaging. Food
product units planted in substantially parallel rows are cut from the
ground by cutter personnel walking behind the moving apparatus, whereupon
the cutters pass the food product to a cut product station atop the
harvesting apparatus. The food product units are picked and packed by
packer personnel situated atop the harvesting apparatus; during this step
indicia is applied to the packaging (or the food product) which provides
the association of GPS or other location-specific information with the
discrete units of food products.