FoodBags containers - ecological, affordable and smart

New FoodBags© containers are already selling like hotcakes. They are clever, original, appealing and affordable solutions ideal for all kinds of products. The packaging combines the market need of keeping the produce visible while maintaining its integrity thanks to rPET lids, with the ecological need of…

"Infrared scanner analyzes fresh produce's internal quality, predicts shelf life”

It sounds almost like science fiction. But it'll be on the market this year. A scanner that not only analyzes fruit and vegetables' internal quality. It also predicts how long they'll keep. "We're a spin-off from a larger company. It's been developing these kinds of sensors for decades," begins Marco…

New pineapple and watermelon cutting machines by PND

"In addition to industrial machines, clients often request small tools that are just as reliable and sturdy," reports PND export manager Virginia Cascella. We are talking about counter cutting machines for pineapples and watermelons, identified respectively as MWS and MPS.  "They are manual and made entirely of…

Multivac

Packaging and labelling fresh fruit and vegetables sustainably

There is a new trend in the packaging of fruit and vegetables: Single-origin recyclable packs made of paperboard or cardboard are gradually replacing the typical plastic trays, which usually have an additional pillow pack, or are wrapped in stretch film or netting. Multivac's full wrap labelling offers a…

Central Queensland grower pilots new MultiView™ camera system for snack tomatoes

In March 2021, the GP Graders team travelled to Bundaberg in Central Queensland to pilot its first MultiView™ camera system for cherry and mini Roma tomatoes, collectively nicknamed, 'snack' tomatoes. "Sunripe are one of the largest producers of field grown snacking tomatoes in Australia and GP Graders…

Labeling system also supports with inventory management

In 2007 when Sara Osborne bought Peters Cranberries, her father-in-law’s cranberry farm on the misty Oregon Coast, she didn’t expect cranberry prices to soon plunge by 80 percent, sending the whole industry into shock. Yet that is exactly what happened, so Sara was very relieved to eventually land a big…

"Despite the crisis, Bizerba is increasing sales and investing in the future"

Bizerba, a provider of hardware and software solutions in the field of weighing, slicing and labeling technology, generated EUR 729 million in sales worldwide in the fiscal year 2020. The family-owned company from Balingen, Germany was thus able to see a 4% increase in revenue as compared to the same…

90% success for robotic tomato harvester

Remember the Greenhouse Robotic Worker developed by MetoMotion? Over the last couple of years we followed the development of the robot intensively and now there's new news to share. Last year MetoMotion partnered with De Ruiter to trial the GRoW system at the De Ruiter Experience Center. In October, an…

Conserver boxes allow produce to maintain premium quality during long transit times

For fruit from Brazil to reach overseas destinations like Europe in perfect condition, Termotécnica has developed the recently launched the FarmFresh conserver box. “It allows produce to maintain its premium quality during long transit times,” says S. Nivaldo de Oliveira, Managing Director with…

A line suitable for delicate produce

Efficiency, swiftness, versatility, easy maintenance and gentleness: this is what is requested of vegetable graders, especially when it comes to zucchini. Giovanni Milana's Biorto Ibleo, located in Ispica (Ragusa), has chosen Calibra V by Bulltec, a water-fed zucchini line with a 2-channel electronic…

Fully automated meal packaging with case packers of Lan Handeling

With their flexible packaging robots, Lan Handling Technologies responds to the increasing demand of food producers to package products of variating sizes and patterns in both crates and boxes. “The market for products such as ready-made salads, vegetables and rice and meat substitutes is booming”, Sales…

Robotics vs. labor shortages

Finding suitable employees is a challenge that today more than ever vexes company owners and personnel planners. Still, robotics on its own will never be the solution. After all, robots need tools just like humans do. With humans, it's all about 'hands and eyes'. With robots, gripper and camera systems must replace the hands…

Compostable and recyclable punnets for grapes, cherries, apricots, etc.

"We are not just suppliers of packaging solutions for agricultural businesses, we are also ambassadors of sustainability. Over the years, with the help of national and international research centers, we managed to produce various solutions made exclusively of biodegradable compostable materials that can maintain…

The world’s first avocado packing robot

Nature’s Pride has the first operational avocado packing robot in the world. This innovation, called the Speedpacker, packs avocados ergonomically and efficiently without making concessions to quality. As demand for avocados increases, Nature’s Pride intends to use this to be an even better partner for…

Citrus derivative makes transparent wood 100 percent renewable

Five years after introducing see-through wood building material, researchers in Sweden have taken it to another level. They found a way to make their composite 100 percent renewable – and more translucent – by infusing wood with a clear bio-plastic made from citrus fruit. Since it was first introduced in…

Bioactive paper coatings to replace plastic for packaging foods

The amount of plastic waste increases every year. Some of this waste is due to plastic packaging used to protect food. As part of the “BioActiveMaterials” project, researchers at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft have developed an eco-friendly coating for paper packaging. With this, not only is plastic saved,…

Julia Kay

Australian couple markets world first compostable potato-based cling wrap, pallet wrap

After being disheartened by the sheer amount of waste products in their respective industries, Julia and Jordy Kay have decided to produce the world’s first compostable cling wrap and pallet wrap. This wrap is made out of potato waste. The Melbourne couple sold more than $30,000 of ‘Great Wrap‘ in their…

DS Smith and Solarenn : a zero plastic partnership

“Eco-design is a business approach that requires investments and time in the long term,” explains the president of Solarenn, Christophe Rousse. A joint effort from three actors of the fruit and vegetable sector - the Solarenn cooperative, DS Smith as  global supplier of sustainable packaging and ETpack mechanizer…

"Bloom guard is the ideal packaging to protect and market lettuce"

WEBER Verpackungen is a traditional German manufacturer of innovative packaging solutions for the horticultural industry. At its site in Wickede, in the middle of NRW, WEBER produces flexible packaging made of paper and material composites for flowers, plants, herbs and vegetables. Through its bloom…

New sustainable packaging solutions launched to meet increasing demand

Demand for sustainable packaging solutions is high. “We’re seeing increased requests across all regions we do business in,” says Shannon Boase with CKF, Inc. “However, all regions are demanding sustainable packaging for different reasons,” she added. In North America, COVID has accelerated interest for…

Packaging company offers tailored solutions for greenhouse grown leafy greens

In recent years, supplies of greenhouse grown leafy greens have gone up in rapid pace. Although this is a global trend, the growth rate is highest in the United States. “Popularity of greenhouse grown produce is driven by factors like year-round supplies, efficient use of water and labor, less dependence…

Sustainable packaging company adds cardboard tray to its portfolio

Cascades, a North America and European based packaging company, is launching the first thermoformed cardboard tray. The product is made from 100 percent recycled and recyclable cardboard and has a recyclable water-based barrier coating which prevents moisture. “The cardboard tray makes a true alternative…

Four fresh produce applications where retail-ready packaging is gaining ground

A new Freedonia Group analysis projects retail-ready boxes to be one of the fastest growing packaging types used in the fresh produce industry through 2024, with the strongest…

"New banding machine increases capacity for rhubarb"

Even with tried-and-tested processes, there sometimes are still opportunities for innovation. And just because something works, doesn't mean you have to rest on your laurels. Strauss Verpackungsmaschinen Ltd took this to heart last year. Strauss has been known for decades for its machines for asparagus, apple…

New, sustainable, customized snack veggie packaging

In the Netherlands, several types of new packaging have been developed by Verstappen Advanced Packaging, Bakker Barendrecht, and their vegetable growers. The focus is on sustainability. This new packaging uses 50% less material. Supermarket chain Albert Heijn uses this packaging. So, it will use…

Graphic Packaging International adds innovative paperboard punnet To Sustainable ProducePack™ Portfolio

Fiber-based packaging leader Graphic Packaging International is pleased to announce the launch of its ProducePack™ Punnet, an innovative paperboard alternative to plastic punnet trays for fresh fruit and vegetables. This new product, available for all commonly used punnet sizes, is fully recyclable and…

Berry Gardens to use ‘Prevented Ocean Plastic’ for punnets

Berry and stone fruit production marketing group Berry Gardens will launch new recycled packaging for its proprietary punnets this summer, using Prevented Ocean Plastic. Prevented Ocean Plastic is plastic that has been collected from coastal areas that would otherwise risk polluting the ocean. It is…

Rethinking reclosure in light of sustainable packaging

As packaging continues to develop to keep up with consumers’ interest in sustainability--think home compostable cling wraps, biodegradable packaging and more--one area that could be overlooked but plays a key role in packaging development is reclosure. “A large portion of produce is packed in a…

Everybody's looking for raw material and containers

In addition to the "usual" problems and restrictions caused by Covid, the price of the raw material used by sorting machine manufacturers increased considerably in March. A few examples: iron increased by +30/35%, oil by approximately 50% and, if this was not enough, quotations keep on changing causing…

Lamb Weston introduces packaging made from sustainable biomaterial

Driving toward a goal of using more sustainable materials in packaging, two Lamb Weston Alexia brand products will use corn and potato starch in their packaging beginning this month. Lamb Weston introduces sustainable biomaterial packaging that is partially made of potato starches, a byproduct of…

Best in Organics awarded to compostable bagged potato line

EarthFresh is excited to announce its Best in Organic Product Award in the New Product Showcase at the CPMA’s Fresh Week Virtual Trade Show and Conference. EarthFresh organic product line up includes organic red, russet and golden potatoes in 10-lb. compostable paper bags.  “We have expanded our organic product…

Coveris and Berry Gardens launch recycled lidding film with over 30% PCR content

Berry Gardens, the UK's leading berry and stone fruit production and marketing group, has partnered with sustainable packaging manufacturer Coveris to launch a new printed lidding film containing over 30% post-consumer recyclate (PCR). The first-to-market, food safe PCR film is now available nationwide…

Maf Roda launches new cherry defect analysis system on the market

The latest advances achieved by Maf Roda in its cherry lines are making it possible to increase the productivity of post-harvest cherry plants. The Cherryway 4 and Cherryscan technologies have become essential for any cherry grower. When working with cherries, you are dealing with several difficulties,…

EastFruit

Smart sorting as the key to successful berry sales

Optical sorting is one of the most important stages in preparing fruit and vegetables for sale. High-quality sorting procedures enable producers to sort their products by various characteristics: weight, size, color, etc. It helps ensure that the packaging of vegetables, fruit and berries is in…

New Idaho potato packaging unveiled

ProSource Produce L.L.C., is releasing the first images of the company’s branded potato packaging. ProSource Produce, LLC, an Idaho based grower-shipper of fresh potatoes and onions, has introduced new Idaho russet packaging as part of an overall company growth and development strategy. The black bags…

Indian company steps up to supply grape exporters

The grape markets in 2020/21 have been disrupted by many factors including the lockdowns in various markets and climatic issues in producing countries. This makes it very difficult for manufacturers of packaging to predict demand and they have to be ready to go into production should the situation…

Lidding films on display at virtual CPMA 2021

Terphane will demonstrate the benefits of its Sealphane® lidding films at the 2021 CPMA Fresh Week virtual event. The online Fresh Week platform will be available from April 12-16, 2021. Terphane’s Sealphane® PET films address a growing demand for tamper-evident, multi-use lidding solutions with a tray…

Agros and Aweta: a 19-year partnership to add value for consumers

"High technology is very important to Agros´s processes to deliver high quality produce to our customers. From our greenhouses to the packing process, we have strict food…

Home compostable packaging now includes Recyclability

CKF, Inc. has added to its roster of independently assigned environmental labels by joining the How2Recycle program and will have the “Widely Recyclable” designation granted for its Earthcycle™ line of thermoformed moulded pulp trays and punnets for fresh produce. How2Recycle is an on-pack labeling…

New slice and dice option available for the Piñabar machine

While some fruits are ready-to-eat or easily peeled and popped into your mouth, other fruits require a bit more effort. That is why Piñabar developed their signature product: a machine that cuts up fresh pineapples in supermarkets for consumers. The company started out in Europe in 2015 and quickly grew…

Compostable packaging to debut at Southern Exposure

Lipman Family Farms will showcase new compostable clamshell packaging at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure conference this week, reinforcing the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainable practices across the supply chain. Carefully curated for Lipman’s Grown True organic grape tomatoes,…

A new vision for high quality onion sorting at Elveden

A turnkey optical onion sorting line featuring a collaboration between UK vegetable handling equipment manufacturer Tong Engineering, and French machinery manufacturer MAF Agrobotic, has enabled leading UK vegetable producer Elveden Farms Ltd to minimise labour requirements whilst increasing capacity and…

FreshPlaza April Global Focus on Machinery and Packaging

FreshPlaza's April Global Focus is on Machinery and Packaging. Do you have an innovative system or new packaging? Are you investing in robotics? Changing from plastic to cardboard packaging? We would love to hear from you. You can contact us via info@freshplaza.com  with information or we can do an interview…