Western Packaging is aware of some of the stresses that small and large agricultural businesses go through. These days there is so much out there to offer that it can get pretty confusing and frustrating. What exactly should you look for in produce packaging when there are a dozen products and even more suppliers?

New farmers and agricultural employees can find it even more stressful because there’s a learning curve. What do you do when there is so much to learn and do and so little time. Well, reach out for help and get a lot of advice from those who have been there and done that. Eventually, you will find just what works for you, your produce, and your goals.

Focus On What Is Necessary

Start by thinking about what is necessary for certain laws and regulations, for your own safety and convenience, and your budget. Sustainable packaging may pull at your heartstrings but if it pulls too much at your wallet than you will have to keep looking. You want to make sure that the containers you use, keep your produce fresh and as picture-perfect as when you harvested it.

Produce packaging should prioritize convenience. It is a major motivator for produce packaging design and is a significant customer and store influencer. Think about the consumer and how they will feel about it. No one, I mean no one wants to fight for five minutes trying to open up their cherry tomatoes. Poor opinions about your brand might result from difficult-to-open packaging. Convenience for your customers is just as important as a convenience for yourself.

Cleanliness

When working with produce, there are a few characteristics that define high-quality packaging – and clean packaging is key. Cleanliness is huge, especially when dealing with food consumed by humans. There are safety regulations that must be followed, or it means fines and even a possible shutdown.
The primary motivations for pursuing hygienic packaging practices are preventing the spread of bacteria and marketing products that comply with sanitary regulations. A surefire way to lose customers is to have a dirty display. Your goal is to choose packaging that keeps the produce clean until it is home with the consumer.

Package According To The Unit Sold

When you sell things by weight, say two dollars a pound you will need to store in it in a package that will hold it by the pound, by the ounce, or whatever the unit is. This, of course, will look different for different types of produce.

Additionally, choice is a crucial component of convenience. Consumers are not in the market to buy vegetables by the pound, transport them home, and laboriously prepare them for meals. 

Rather, they want food packaged and priced according to their needs, easily accessible, and relatively easy to use and dispose of when cooking at home. By overpacking your produce and packaging, you will create an exploding mess for the customer, leaving them looking elsewhere the next time they visit the grocery store. 

Consider Where Your Produce Will Be Stored

Take into account the necessary storage conditions for your fresh products. Produce packaging that maintains the correct temperature, which is required if you have a cooler. This can be achieved with various packaging options, including insulated boxes and plastic bags. If you are a fruit and vegetable provider, consider how your produce will be transported from your farm to stores and distributors. Reusable bulk packaging like food-grade totes or baskets may also greatly benefit you and your produce.

For fresh fruit, you may need to use packaging that is easy to stack and carry, such as food-grade pallets or crates, or you may need to use bulk packaging that can hold a lot of products. Fresh produce can be stored and sent in pallets, which are ideal since they are durable and can withstand a range of temperatures without causing deterioration to the product. When transporting vulnerable fruits or vegetables, you should use packaging that provides additional protection against dents and bruising before placing your goods onto wooden pallets.

Safe For Transport 

One of the most important factors when searching for produce packaging. Whether you are transporting your goods in the back of a pickup truck or a semi you want to make sure that it arrives safe and with minimal to no damage. When you are transporting your produce think about the functionality of it. 

What is the best way to transport twenty cantaloupe to the farmers market? Things like tomatoes will need packaging the customer takes home their goods in and something else to carry multiple units for transport. Over time you will start to figure out what works best for you whether that be: cardboard boxes, breathable materials, handles or drawstrings, or even sustainable packaging.

Aesthetically Pleasing

This is usually one of the last things about packaging that we find necessary, but it does matter to an extent. Depending on where you are marketing and who you are marketing your produce to the appearance of your packaging means a great deal. Do not stress this if it is not in your budget. If it is, then buy an aesthetically pleasing but eye-catching label, bag, or carton. Your branding can help people to remember you and set you apart from other business owners.

Customers are more likely to be attracted to and purchase the contents if the packaging is visually appealing. Using a basket as your container might be the ideal method to grab attention and draw consumers if you’re selling fresh produce at a farmers market or roadside kiosk. Conversely, if you export fresh produce to supermarkets or other shops, you may want a more robust container with eye-catching branding and design. 

Environmentally Friendly Packaging

For the sake of the environment and money saved over the course of several package uses, the best fresh fruit packaging should also be recyclable or compostable. Recyclable or compostable packaging is becoming increasingly popular as fresh produce farmers, and consumers place a greater emphasis on supply chain sustainability. Selecting packaging that is both recyclable and fits your needs is crucial for sustainable fresh produce delivery and helping to lessen the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and the ocean. 

Whether it’s adopting clamshells, corrugated cartons, pints, or trays for fresh produce, every effort matters when it comes to becoming green and sustainable with packaging. Consumers are also more prone to view your product, company, and packaging efforts more favorably if they represent and reflect the importance of being “green” and environmentally friendly. Think about how the packaging will complement your brand identity. 

We Can Help With Produce Packaging

Western Packaging can help you package your produce in style. We offer a variety of durable packaging suitable for everything from apples to farm supplies. If you need help picking out the right product for you give us a call today.    

Do you package and sell produce? In order to preserve your produce and make the most of it, you need to have proper packaging. When you choose a packaging that is best for the needs that you have, you are going to benefit the most. Western Packaging is a wholesale packaging company that can help you with all of your packaging needs. 

What Are The Four Factors to Consider In Packaging?

There are many things to consider when choosing the right packaging for your produce. You want it to not only be economically right but also be the best option for sustainability. There are four factors that you can use to help you make the best decision, and they are:

• Manufacturing
• Supply Chain
• Business
• Brand and Marketing

Most of the time, when you purchase produce, it will be in a loose plastic package or a vacuum-sealed one. Plastic or poly bags are often less expensive than other packaging options and are sold in readymade pouches or on rolls of film. Vacuum sealed is going to preserve items longer. Where you purchase your packaging is a personal decision made by the company. You want to make sure you are making the right best decision for your company.

What Are The Three P’s In Packaging?

When you are shopping for packaging for your produce, it can be a little stressful. Not in a bad way, but you want to make the right decision. There are many things that you are thinking about and considering. The three P’s that we recommend you consider are:

• Perceived Value & Use
• Product Protection
• Printed Marketing

Protection of your produce is very important. Product packaging is pointless if it has an exquisite design that promises customers it was built just for them but can’t get from your facility to the stores without getting damaged. You don’t want your produce to arrive damaged at the store. This would not be good for business. 

What Should Be Included In Product Packaging?

Research is important to do before you make a final decision on the packaging you choose. Look around and get some recommendations. This will help you know the pros and cons of different products. When you have made your decision, you have to make sure you can include everything you need in it. Some of the information that is provided on the packaging is:

• Functional Benefits
• Brand
• Product Type
• And More

That goes for vegetables and fruits as well. The company name and other information is oftentimes located on the packaging. The items that are not prepackaged obviously do not have this information. 

What Packaging Is Best To Use?

The type of packaging that you use highly depends on what you are packaging inside of it. Everything is going to survive and thrive better in different types of materials. Doing some research and knowing the type of material you are looking for, will be much easier to make a decision. 

There are a variety of types that you can choose from. Some of the options that you have are:

• Glass Packaging
• Flexible Packaging
• Paper Packaging
• Fiberboard Packaging
• And More

Most Commonly Used Produce Packaging Materials 

It’s a good rule of thumb to treat your items as you would treat yourself when it comes to the materials you select to package your product. The right space for the right package significantly impacts the final result. Just as you wouldn’t want to live in a house that is either too big or too little, your product also deserves an adequately and comfortably sized area to reside as it is packaged, shipped, and eventually sold. Let’s examine some of the more commonly used food packaging materials.

Paper

Environmentally friendly but not reusable. Although they won’t keep food fresh for long, paper bags, cups, and plates are good for temporary use. Paper items should only be used once. 

Glass

It is non-reactive and suitable for safely storing leftovers because it won’t leech anything into food items. Glass containers are also safe to use in the oven, microwave, and dishwasher. Glass can be heavy, which is a drawback. It also breaks easily.

Metal

Durable, non-reactive, and recyclable are some beneficial qualities of aluminum and stainless steel. Metal, on the other hand, transfers heat and cold, thus, it might not preserve food at the proper temperature. Over time, some metals may also develop dents or begin to rust.

Plastic

Cost-effective, portable, and versatile. A variety of sizes and forms are available for plastic containers. However, some plastics are not environmentally friendly and can leach toxins into food. Find plastics with the recycling codes #2 (HDPE), #4 (LDPE), or #5 (PP) and those that are BPA-free.

Fresh produce is best packaged using clamshells, bags, and containers made of plastic, allowing visibility while shielding the product from damage and extending shelf life. To prevent the buildup of too much moisture, perforated bags also allow for airflow.

Choose The Design Carefully

The design that you choose for your packaging is very important. Even when it comes to your produce. What is seen on the outside is what tells people about your product. Overall, you will have more success with package design if you keep your target audience at the forefront of your design. Consumers will become confused and lose faith if there is a mismatch between the materials you choose or the style of your package, and the message of your brand. Some produce doesn’t come in a pre-made package, but several items do.

Some of the things that you should think about when choosing your package design are:

• Have An Idea About What You Want Your Product To Portray
• Make The Design Resemble Your Vision
• Inspect The Packaging Thoroughly Before Giving Approval
• And Much More

Staying Within Your Packaging Budget

It’s critical to consider your budget while selecting food packaging. Packaging prices can vary greatly depending on the product and type of material. Generally speaking, plastics are the most cost-effective material choice, while more environmentally friendly options like recycled materials cost a little more upfront.

For your packaging requirements, think about establishing and sticking to a budget. Obtain price quotes from many vendors to compare and identify the most competitive offers. Purchasing in bulk or using generic packaging over customized packaging may allow you to save money. Consider using simple, flexible packaging that can be utilized for various products if price is a factor. By doing this, waste and the requirement to purchase unique packaging for each item are decreased.

Contact Western Packaging For More Information

If you are in the market for produce packaging, call Western Packaging now. Our staff would be happy to help you make the best decision on packaging for your business needs. We will give you any advice or information that you are needing. Don’t hesitate to call, we look forward to hearing from you soon.