Packaging plays a vital role in keeping the produce fresh and safe from several external factors. It is one of the many ways to boost the sales and with printed vegetable packaging farmers can even create a robust brand identity in the market. read this blog to find out different vegetable packaging sizes and the materials to keep your vegetables fresh.
Why Does Choosing the Right Size Matter?
Deciding on the right material for your vegetables and the size matters a lot. Most consumers look for packaging that isn’t squeezing the vegetables. Choosing the accurate size for your vegetables is a must to keep them fresh and safe from bruising and other external factors.
Choose the Right Size for Your Vegetables
Start by choosing the right vegetable packaging size before you ship your fresh produce to the market. Size matters a lot when you have to pack your fresh vegetables. You must always leave a little bit room inside the packaging when you pack your vegetables to avoid any potential damage. Consider the following sizes for your vegetable packaging:
Small Sizes
Most customers need small quantities of vegetables, which is why it's important to get them in different sizes for the vegetables, including the small size. Small-sized vegetables such as beetroots and lemons are mostly packed in mesh bags made of plastic. You can get custom sizes for your vegetables or go for the market-available sizes:
- 3.93” x 3.93” x 1.77” for mint or ice bergs
- 4” x 4” x 2” for herbs, green chillies, garlic
- 5” x 5.5” x 3” for okra and tomatoes
- 6"x4"x2" for baby carrots and green beans
- 7” x 3” x 4.5” for Brussels sprouts and springed green onion
Medium Sizes
Choose medium-sized packaging for vegetables to keep them safe during shipping and shelving. Consider the following sizes for your vegetables to pack in different quantities and boost sales:
- 10.24” x 4.61” x 2.95” for bell peppers or eggplants
- 10.4” x 8.6” x 5.8” for cucumbers or lady fingers
- 12” x 10”x 6” for potatoes or peppers
- 14.84” x 10.63” x 23.43” for cabbages or cauliflowers
Large Sizes
Large sizes for packaging are usually used by customers with large families or hosting dinners of lunches for families. You can use the following vegetable packaging sizes when packing vegetables in bulk and transporting them to distant places:
- 20.47” x 1.97” x 33.46” for potatoes or kale
- 22” × 18” × 9” for mixed vegetables
- 24” × 18” × 10” for cauliflower or cabbage
- 26” × 20” × 10” for pumpkins or sweet potatoes
- 28” × 22” × 12” for large onions
Custom Sizes
You can choose custom sizes when you are packing special orders for your customers. The custom sizes can have mini sizes and extra-large sizes as per the owner’s desire. You can pack one or even 100 vegetables in one packaging with the custom sizes. Choosing flexible packaging for vegetables that do not have a definite shape can help in keeping the vegetables safe during shipping and shelving.
Different Materials to Pack Vegetables
Choosing the right material for vegetable packaging is as important as choosing the right size. The perfect packaging material will enhance the shelf life of the produce and keep it safe from several external factors. Certain packaging materials are used to create a controlled temperature. Here are a few packaging materials you can use for vegetable packaging:
- Cardboard
Cardboard is used when farmers are looking for eco-friendly options to pack their produce. The size of vegetable boxes should be adequate to avoid bruising. You can pack several vegetables in cardboard boxes with inserts to keep them from bruising. Vegetables such as tomatoes, mushrooms, cauliflowers, etc.
- Shrink Wraps
Shrink wraps are usually used to pack vegetables in pairs and bundles. These wraps can prevent contamination and extend shelf life. Shrunk wraps give a clean and tamper evident look to the vegetables packed inside. You can pack vegetables like asparagus.
- Plastic & Wooden Crates
Plastic and wooden crates are used to transport vegetables to distant places. You can pack vegetables such as zucchini, cabbage, and egg plants in these crates. These crates can lift heavier vegetables easily and can be stacked easily for bulk handling and storage.
- Plastic Bags
plastic bags are used to pack leafy vegetables so the moisture can be locked in. Most supermarkets use plastic bags to pack vegetables such as baby carrots, spinach, lettuce, etc. The vegetables packed in plastic bags can also be put in the refrigerator to keep the produce fresh.
- Mesh Bags
Mesh bags are used for different purposes but most importantly because they are lightweight and breathable. You can pack several vegetables such as onions and potatoes in mesh bags. These bags do not let the moisture build up inside to rot the vegetables.
- Clamshell
Clamshell packaging is used when you need to pack certain herbs, icebergs, and even baby tomatoes. Most grocery stores use clamshell packaging for a lot of vegetables as it can keep the vegetables safe from external factors such as water and heat.
Modified Atmosphere Packaging for Vegetables
You should use Modified Atmosphere Packaging technique to prolong the shelf life of your vegetables. MAP is used to reduce the oxygen and the amount of nitrogen or carbon dioxide is increased to keep the vegetables fresh. This balance of gases reduces the browning and prevents spoilage or wilting. MAP uses cool temperatures to keep the vegetables fresh.
Tips to Remember when Choosing Vegetable Packaging
Now that you know the type of packaging and the right sizes to choose, it is time to remember the tips and tricks before purchasing the right vegetable packaging for your produce. Here are three important factors you must keep in mind:
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Versatility in Packaging
Every vegetable requires different packaging based on the fragility and distance it needs to travel. You should know the crop requirements before choosing the size. If the vegetables can deal with dust and humidity during shipping, mesh bags are a wise choice. Vegetables such as onions and potatoes do not need any boxed packaging as they aren’t sensitive to certain external factors like other Icebergs.
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Storage Management
Whether you are directly transporting your vegetables to the consumers or not also weighs on the kind of packaging you choose. If you are storing your produce in a storage facility for some time before selling it, most vegetables will require air and cold temperature to remain fresh. Therefore, those vegetables cannot be packed in cardboard boxes.
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Shipping Costs Based on Packaging
You should also remember that the size of the packaging affects the shipping cost as well. When you are shipping your produce in crates or wooden boxes, the packaging will take more space than when you are shipping the vegetables in flexible packaging. On the other hand when you pack produce in mesh bags or even clamshell packaging, the shipping may be less as the weight of these two materials is not as much as the crates and wooden boxes.
Pack Your Produce in Durable and Right-Sized Packaging!
Keep your vegetables fresh by choosing a controlled environment when transporting the vegetables from farm to the storage facility. Choose the right sizes for your packaging, whether they are boxes or mesh bags. Get branded packaging to create a robust brand identity by contacting The Customize Boxes and get a free personalized quote for your custom packaging needs.
