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INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN |
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South Africa is able to boast a thriving fresh produce market with a healthy local demand and sufficient supply to participate in exports of significant volumes to international destinations . Many fresh fruits and vegetables particularly have seen an increased international demand and so significant growth as consumer preferences change with each season . Ensuring produce quality will be one of the biggest factors driving the consumer ’ s choice - and so producers and retailers alike will need to up their game to reduce returns or rejections , and where waste can be mitigated .
Correct packaging choice coupled to precise production , harvesting and postharvest logistics should also protect the produce along the supply-chain journey above the function of preservation . No consumer enjoys a situation where they bite into a bruised , partially decayed or soft item that is spoilt or has a bad taste – this could deter their future support of a particular brand , and this is definitely important today with the variety of brands seen on the shelf – that is growing annually too . Now , although producers are scared of “ input costs ”, a small additional fee can mean the difference between excellent financial returns , having to reduce a sale price or worst case – a total loss .
Packaging solutions that are available , and the incorporation of modified atmosphere environments , technology such as laser perforated films , resealable containers , and produce “ breathing ” features available to the local market not only mitigate the degradation of produce , they have also opened up the doors to more easily managed participation in the supply chain for astute sellers . It enables that in times of oversupply to the markets that portions or entire harvests can be delayed to market and this in turn gains additional revenue being able to sell a quality product at a premium . The technology in packaging is in fact so advanced at this point in time that it is possible to control , quite precisely , the rate at which these controlled environments can slow down or stop ripening according to individual fresh produce respiration rates , and without the product losing moisture .
These features can also enable an extended period for consumers to purchase produce designated as “ sellable ” before price reduction to get rid of stock – this could further result in massive increases of profits . For the export markets – as we know shipping has become a thorn in the side of many with up to two-week periods of additional lead times added to an already long delivery process . With the right packaging solutions this too can now be accommodated to ensure produce still arrives at its destination in top quality condition .
REQUIREMENTS FOR FRESH PRODUCE : SIMPLE GUIDELINES Packaging of fresh fruits and vegetables as we can see is one of the more important steps in the often-complicated journey from the producer to the consumer while this journey involves several steps in processing and logistics – it is also today A LOT about product marketing .
In the US , as an example , more than 1500 different types of packaging are used for produce and this number continues to increase as the industry introduces new materials and concepts to meet the market needs . Although for most industries , standardisation is one way to reduce cost , trends in recent years have definitely moved toward providing a wider range of packaging
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Blueberries in plastic containers with many ventilations holes for air flow is the start of the process in the cold chain to get the product down to the desired temperature .
to try and accommodate the diverse needs of all that include other than the consumers - wholesalers , food service buyers , and processing operations as they all strive to have a unique selling proposition in a highly competitive trading environment .
It is important that role players in the cold chain as well as consumers have a solid understanding of the wide range of packaging options available , as well as the impact that packaging can have . One such aspect is the impact of container failure . Another significant impact is the management of moulds and pests that all affect a product ’ s saleability . In essence , packaging needs to fulfil a multipronged solution of protection , preserving quality , appropriate design and function , meet the consumer ’ s aesthetic needs that sway them to purchase , and provide easy identification of contents .
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Use and function Any “ container ” should enclose the produce in a convenient “ unit ” for suitable handling throughout distribution and retail steps . Produce should fit well with little wasted space . Small produce items that are spherical or oblong ( such as potatoes , onions , and apples ) may be packaged efficiently utilising a variety of different package shapes and sizes . However , many produce items such as asparagus , berries , or soft fruit may require containers specially designed for that item . Produce commonly handled by hand is usually limited to certain maximum manageable weights – eg 4.5kg or 9kg , etc .
Protection The packaging unit must obviously protect produce from mechanical damage and poor environmental conditions during a journey . Torn , dented , or collapsed packaging usually indicates a lack of care in handling the contents but also most often results in reduced sales prices .
Almost all produce packages are palletised at some point in the chain and so containers should have sufficient stacking strength to resist crushing in a low temperature , high humidity environment prevalent in the cold chain . Although the cost of packaging materials has escalated in recent years , poor quality , lightweight containers that are easily damaged by handling or moisture are no longer accepted by many packers , buyers or retailers as they
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don ’ t want to be liable should containers fail in their hand or control .
Produce destined for export markets requires containers to meet very specific criteria . Air-freighted produce may require other steps to be included such as insulation . Companies that intend to export fresh produce should consult with authorities around such special requirements .
Containers should be “ produce friendly ” – thus assisting to maintain an optimum environment for the longest shelf life possible . This may include materials to slow the loss of water from the produce , insulation materials to keep out heat , or engineered plastic liners that maintain a favourable mix of oxygen , carbon dioxide or nitrogen .
Identification There is a general requirement that any packaged product must identify and provide useful information about the particular produce . It is customary ( and may be legally required in some cases ) to provide information such as the produce name , brand , size , grade , variety , net weight , count , grower , shipper , and country of origin .
It has also become a standard to be able to find nutritional information and other useful information directed specifically at the consumer . In consumer marketing , package appearance has also become an important part of point-of-sale displays .
Universal Product Codes ( UPC or bar codes ) are generally included – particularly for export produce . A UPC used in the food industry consist of a ten-digit machine readable code . The first five digits are a number assigned to the specific producer ( packer or shipper ) and the second five digits represent specific product information such as type of produce and size of package . Although no price information is included , UPCs are used more and more by packers , shippers , buyers , and retailers as a fast and convenient method of inventory control and cost accounting . Efficient use of UPCs requires coordination with everyone who handles the produce .
It would be impossible to cover all of the types of packaging available in South Africa , so we have chosen a few of the most common ones that would be used and seen in the supply chain .
Types of packaging materials
• Pallets Pallets literally form the base on which most fresh produce is delivered to the consumer . The produce industry uses billions of pallets per year globally . In South Africa , unlike many other countries with very high ratios of single-use pallets , this product carries multiple uses and comes in standard wood and plastic - produced locally which is also a very big industry here . Standardisation of sizes further encourages reuse , which has many benefits above reducing cost , standard size pallets make efficient use of transport space and can accommodate heavier loads than single-use options .
Depending on the size of produce packaged , a single pallet can carry many individual packages . Because these packages are often loosely stacked to allow for air circulation , or are bulging and difficult to stack evenly , they must be secured to prevent shifting during handling and transit . Although widely used , plastic straps and tapes may not have completely satisfactory results . Plastic or paper corner tabs should always be used to prevent the straps from crushing the corners of packages .
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Plastic film or wrap is also widely used to secure produce packages . A good film must stretch , retain its elasticity , and cling to the packages . Plastic film may conform easily to various size loads . It helps protect the packages from loss of moisture , makes the pallet more secure and can be applied using partial automation . However , plastic film severely restricts proper ventilation . A common alternative to stretch film is plastic netting , which is much better for stabilising some pallet loads , such as those that require forced-air cooling . Used stretch film and plastic netting particularly is difficult to properly handle and recycle after use .
• Wooden crates Wooden crates , once extensively used for apples , stone fruit , potatoes and tomatoes have been almost totally replaced by other types of containers . The relative expense of the container , a greater concern for overall weight contribution , and advances in material handling have reduced their use to a few specialty items , such as expensive tropical fruit .
• Corrugated board Corrugated board ( often mistakenly called cardboard ) is manufactured in many different styles and weights . Because of its relativity low cost and versatility , it is the dominant produce container material and will probably remain so in the near future . The strength and serviceability of corrugated boards have been improving in recent years .
Most corrugated board is made from three or more layers of paperboard . To be considered paperboard , the paper must meet specific criteria thickness . The grades of paperboard are differentiated by their weight ( generally in grams per square meter - GSM ) and their thickness . This papertype typically made from unbleached pulp has a characteristic brown colour and is exceptionally strong by ratio . This product , as manufactured in other countries , may also include a portion of synthetic fibres added for additional strength , and other materials to give it “ wet strength ” and then printability .
Although most corrugated boards contain some recycled fibres , it must be noted that minimum amounts of recycled materials may be specified by local and international standards . Tests have shown that cartons of fully recycled pulp have only about 75 percent of the stacking strength of virgin fibre containers . The use of recycled fibre products will thus lead to the implementation of thicker walled containers .
Large bins of lemons at a de-greening facility would make their way to a packhouse to be processed .
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