Courtesy Macro PlasticsThis is one of two new styles of produce totes from Macro Plastics and Calpine Containers. The Macro Tote 5-FV is a collapsible container that weighs 1.37 pounds but can hold 36 pounds of produce. When collapsed, it is only 1.34 inches in height. Customer feedback spurred Macro Plastics and Calpine Containers officials to develop two new produce totes.
Initially designed with grape growers in mind, the Macro Tote 5-FV and 6-FV containers can be used for any fresh produce commodity, the manufacturers said in a news release. One was designed to increase shipping efficiency and the other was created to protect produce, ease handling and increase storage capacity.
The Macro Tote 5-FV is made with an injection-mold process and is collapsible. It has ergonomic handles for easy field handling and weighs just over 1 1/3 pounds when empty. The 5-FV has a peak depth of 6.3 inches and can hold 36 pounds of produce, the news release said.
A flip-style latch and hinged edges make the 5-FV collapsible, allowing it to fold down to a flat 1.34 inches tall. Customers report the 5-FV is saving them money because of improved packout and minimized freight costs, especially for one-way shipments, said Peter Piccioli, vice president of agriculture sales for Macro Plastics, Fairfield, Calif.
The Macro Tote 6-FV is designed to protect fresh produce, the release said, with rounded corners and smooth surfaces. Grips on the bottom of the tote allow workers to easily handle the 6-FV during harvest. The totes have more than 400 air vents, which speeds pre-cooling and extends shelf life, the release said.
Although lightweight, the 6-FV totes have a load capacity of 28 pounds and can be stacked three pallets high. They have a maximum stack weight of about 1,200 pounds, which allows users to maximize use of storage space, said Calpine containers marketing director Eva Hammond in the news release.
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