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.
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