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PHOTOS COURTESY OF: (TOP LEFT) CKF, INC.; (BOTTOM LEFT) SAMBRAILO PACKAGING; (BOTTOM MIDDLE) FOX PACKAGING
FINDING A SOLUTION THAT’S
THE TOTAL PACKAGE
High labor costs drive need for affordable applications. BY MATT OGG
Whether you have a zeal for top seal, are betting on netting, vouch for the pouch or choose to go with the ow [wrapping], fresh produce packaging companies continue to upgrade the options avail- able to try to improve appeal, value, environmental credentials and convenience.
is is no small task in light of labor costs and the added expense associated with in-vogue recyclable and compostable materials, but could there be ways to bring the nal product down to a more a ord- able level?
“A package that is more expensive may be an option if the packing house can save on labor so that the price point remains about the same,” says Aaron Fox, executive vice president at Fox Packaging in McAllen, TX. “Minimum wages are climbing in many of the states that are heavy in the production of fresh produce, so automation is something that our customers are looking for.”
Fox says wicket bags have the easiest application for automation, with the technology being relatively inexpensive, fast operating and an easy modi cation to add below an existing weighing machine.
“With a wicket bag, the choices are an abundance of bags that will
run on the same machine, including the Fox Fresh Mesh Combo bag, wicket mesh bag or straight poly bag,” he says. “Each choice o ers its own amount of ventilation depending on the mesh content, or in the case of the poly bag, vent holes.”
Fox notes the latest trend is to take existing packages and make them recycle-friendly. is is a challenge, but thanks to scienti c advancements, his company is able to o er eco-starch resins as an option to any customer who wants to shift to plant-based sustainable polymers.
But the priority given to environmentally friendly options largely depends on the retailer.
“Regional retailers have more distinct demands based on their clientele, while nationwide brands have to try to appeal to everyone,” says Fox. “For example, most of our recyclability and disposal inquiries will come from a Trader Joe’s shopper.”
THE PACKAGING ECONOMY
Shannon Boase, director of new market development at CKF, Inc. in Vancouver, BC, Canada, says high-speed, top-seal machines are having a signi cant impact on the fresh produce industry, reducing
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