Sage Fruit Company, a grower, packer and shipper of Washington tree fruit, is gearing up for new crop apple and pear season. As consumer demands have warranted, it has added considerable acreage of organic orchards and this season, the company is excited about the growth it has experienced in its overall volume across all commodities and varieties.
Sage Fruit has also put emphasis on sourcing sustainable packaging solutions for its retail partners. The organic consumer has shown significant interest in leading a more sustainable lifestyle. With increased concerns over single-use plastic, Sage Fruit has been actively seeking alternative solutions to traditional packaging.
With a focus on both organics and sustainability, exhibiting at the Organic Produce Summit is a natural fit for the company and it’s excited to share its new developments.
Sage Fruit is focusing on sourcing sustainable packaging solutions for its retail partners.
Apeel partnership
One example of how it is accomplishing its sustainability goals is its continued partnership with Apeel Sciences. During the 2021-2022 season, Sage Fruit will treat numerous mainstream organic apple varieties including Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith and Pink Lady.
Apples treated with Apeel retain more moisture on the supermarket shelf than non-treated organic apples. The shelf life can reach up to 40 days. Apeel creates a barrier on the fruit that helps prevent moisture loss and keeps product fresher longer.
The goal is to provide retailers, and their consumers, with increased availability of premium organic apples throughout the year, while also providing a more crisp and flavorful experience to the purchaser and encourage repeat sales. Through its partnership with Apeel, Sage Fruit is bringing new, innovative options to its retail partners.
Sage Fruit Co. says it has added considerable acreage of organic orchards.
Additionally, as retail specific initiatives regarding sustainable packaging becomes more prevalent, Sage Fruit has begun trialing new bag solutions for its products. Its goal is to get ahead of retail timelines and bring more sustainable options to its customers.
Its initial trial of a sustainable bag option was an organic cherry pouch which hit store shelves this past summer. The bag uses Sev-Rend’s patent-pending Bio-Able solutions. Bio-Able Solutions directly addresses plastic and food packaging sustainability. Enabled with bio-assimilation technology, these new bags are 100 percent recyclable and formulated to fully degrade in both marine and terrestrial environments, leaving behind zero micro-plastic waste.
Bio-Able Solutions are:
- ASTM 5526 certified
- ASTM 6954 Tier 1 certified
- 100 percent recyclable
- FDA approved
- Proven to completely bio-assimilate, resulting in zero micro-plastic waste.
Sage Fruit hopes to offer this technology for apple and pear packaging soon.
Find the Sage Fruit team at Booth #127 during the Organic Produce Summit.
For more information:
Chuck Sinks
Sage Fruit Company
Tel: +1 913-485-0366
csinks@sagefruit.com
https://www.sagefruit.com/