India: Himachal looking to adopt universal cartons for fruit produce

Himachal Pradesh is looking at adoption of a standard universal carton for boxing of fruit produce with the objective of reducing costs in the face of stiff competition from China. State Horticulture Minister Narinder Bragta has convened a high-level meeting of MLAs from apple-growing areas, members of Zila Parishads and progressive fruit-growers on January 5 to discuss the proposal. At present, fruit-growers in the state use telescopic cartons to box their produce, Bragta said, adding this kind of packaging was not up to international standards.

The telescopic cartons suffered inherent drawbacks in the transportation of fruit, such as heavy grading, the need for preparation of extra packing layers, blockage of air slots and low storage capacity, which drove up the price of apples and other fruits from Himachal. The state government will work for a consensus and spread awareness among growers about the advantages of using standard universal cartons before taking a final decision on the proposal, he added.

Source: ibnlive.in.com