The annual PMA Impact Award honors innovations in fresh produce packaging, and for Vortex Packaging, one of the finalists this year, decades of experience selling produce has led to acknowledgment from the industry.
Vortex Packaging, which is based in Ontario, Canada, has been chosen as one of the Impact Award finalists for its lidded baskets with handles. The baskets help reduce shrink at the retail level by being easy to stack and they're attractive to consumers because their handles make them easy to carry. Development of the containers took three years, and their genesis was a result of many years working in the produce industry, said President of Vortex Packaging, Phil Short.
“I developed the packaging by being in the produce industry for 40 years,” he said. “I've had over 500 acres of fruit, and from that experience I developed the packaging to increase sales and reduce shrink.” He added that Vortex has recently introduced a one-liter container specifically for berries.
“We're targeting the berry industry with our new basket because we saw an increase in blueberry production and consumption,” said Short. “With that demand, we figured consumers would want to buy more blueberries and in larger containers.”
Vortex's containers are versatile and have been used to package many kinds of fresh produce. With that success, Short believes they're on the verge of expansion to more markets.
“We're very happy right now,” he said. “We've already been nominated for an award in Canada, and we've broadened our marketing region to all of North America.”
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Phil Short
Vortex Packaging