Packaging materials

• Packaging materials should be appropriate for the customer, destination, and mode of transport.
• Best practice for multiple outlets will utilise plastic RDTs (retail display trays) as the outer packaging unit. RDTs also come in cardboard as the second favoured option.
• Wholesale markets often prefer a 30 lb or 40 lb sealed box, rather than RDTs.
• RDTs can be placed directly on to the retail shelf thus avoiding any unnecessary decanting of fruit. Decanting will inevitably increase the risk of in-store damage to the product and cost to the producer.
• Plastic crates offer the best protection for fruit in transit and are more cost efficient than cardboard equivalents. The turnaround cost comparison generally shows that plastic is half the cost of cardboard. In addition, regulations for the disposal of waste materials increase the hidden costs for cardboard.
• Internal packaging i.e. fibre-moulded trays offer the best protection for loose product and allow maximum presentation of loose product at the retail level.
• If product is well presented, it will reduce the level of consumer selection and handling in the store that so often spoils otherwise acceptable fruit. This spoiling of product and eye appeal detracts from sales.
• Pre-packed fruit in the form of polybags or over wraps offer two distinct advantages. Polybag fruit allows easy selection by the consumer and introduction of promotions of smaller sizes (25% extra for example). However, fruit must be of consistent quality within the pack or loss of consumer confidence will result in fewer repeat purchases.
• Over wrapping i.e. 4 or 6 apples in moulded trays sealed with cellophane, offers the opportunity to add value to fruit with enhanced attributes. For example for ready-to-eat (pre-ripened) fruit.
• MAP (modified atmosphere packing) which is commonplace in other product areas, usually by positive MAP (injected gases in the case of meat) is still in development for the apple supply chain.
• This technology has been tried in the past, but now improved permeable films offer an opportunity for MAP to become a standard procedure. This type of MAP will rely on a product-generated atmosphere using permeable films to establish and control the atmosphere inside the pack. Product will be packed into polybags and punnets.
• The benefit of this technology is a greatly enhanced shelf life, delivering enhanced texture to the consumer. The same technology will become commonplace in stone fruit and soft fruit as well.