Tag m.a.p

Solutions For Fresh Fruit And Produce Packaging

Packaging fresh fruit and produce presents unique challenges for suppliers. Today’s supply chains are becoming longer and more complicated – and sometimes span several continents. The right choice of logistic services can determine whether or not a fresh produce consignment can be sold. Fresh produce can be shipped by sea, air, road, or in some cases, by rail. It is important to ensure that the delivery process and the packaging of fresh produce on its way from farm to point of sale is adapted to the respective mode of transport.

Packaging not only needs to be leak-proof (for convenience and hygiene purposes) and include machine-readable labels. It should also protect against contamination, so that fresh produce can be transported together with FMCGs in the same consignment. In this context, fresh fruit and vegetable packaging will increasingly be expected to support eco-sustainability, for example, by extending shelf life and using more eco-friendly materials. Growers will either need to expand their in-house packaging capabilities and processes, or enter into partnerships with service providers. We already see the packaging industry ramping up its production capacity for producers – and this trend is likely to continue as online sales increase.

ORICS is a leader in Modified Atmosphere Packaging, (M.A.P.) systems which helps to solve a number of issues for produce and fresh fruit with regard to ensuring freshness and prolonging shelf life.

Chips-and-salsa MAP pack debuts

The creative minds behind the AriZona Beverages brand have made their first major foray into food, launching a unique salsa-and-chips meal kit under the new Blue Luna Café brand.

After chips are deposited into a thermoformed tray salsa is hot-filled into a “cup” that’s actually a compartment formed out of one corner of the tray. The tray is nitrogen-flushed to drive out o2 and heat-sealed with lidding material. The combination of hot-filling gas flushing and barrier materials contributes to the nonrefrigerated shelf life of six months.

The tray is thermoformed of polypropylene by Rexam Containers (Union MO) and incorporates an ethylene vinyl alcohol barrier. Not only is the tray substantial enough to accommodate the hot-fill “We also wanted to give the consumer something that’s strong enough to really facilitate on-the-go [consumption]” says John Balboni executive vice president of business development for Ferrolito Vultaggio & Sons in Lake Success NY. That firm owns the Blue Luna Café and AriZona brands.

The specs and supplier of the lidstock hadn’t been finalized as Packaging World went to press though Balboni says the lidding will likely consist of a metallized structure turinabol uk with EVOH for barriers against moisture and O2 respectively. The lidding of the sample shown is flexo-printed though Balboni says the company will switch to gravure to obtain better graphics.

The tray will be packed automatically on custom-built tray fill/seal equipment from ORICS (Farmingdale, NY). Balboni claims the linear machine will reach speeds of 80 to 100 trays/min. A much smaller rotary machine also from Orics is currently being used to produce the pack. At press time the firm hadn’t made a final decision where the product will be contract-packaged.

The new package sells for approximately $1.49 for 3 oz of chips and 3 oz of salsa. It debuted last month in c-stores in the metro New York City area and is expected to go national says Balboni. Retailers also will receive a unique P-O-P display that holds eight packages and can hang on a wall sit on a counter or attach to the side of a display cooler.

The early feedback? “It’s been fabulous” says Balboni. “We were planning on sending a pallet or two [to distributors] and we’re getting truckload orders.”

Originally Appeared: Packaging World, November 30, 1998

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