Recyclable bag, biodegradable box among new packaging options for Fresh Energy dates

Bakersfield, Calif.-based Atlas Produce & Distributors, which markets the Fresh Energy Medjool Dates brand, has two new sustainable packaging options.

Sales representative Luke Fountain described the company’s new recyclable bag and biodegradable box at the Atlas booth at the recent West Coast Produce Expo in Las Vegas.

“On the bag, we got a lot of great feedback,” Fountain said. “Sustainability is trending. People are wanting to kind of move away from plastic, especially the consumer.”

The company uses social media to show consumers how even the brand’s traditional package – a plastic tub – can also be sustainable if consumers use it for different purposes after the dates are gone. The bag is an alternative, however, for shoppers who just want to recycle the packaging.

Each package presents a marketing opportunity, which is important because dates are a growing category, Fountain said. He noted sales have increased significantly since a rebrand several years ago.

Atlas also has a new 48-count display for its dates. Pre-pack options can be done in the company’s facility, or the display can be shipped flat.

There’s another new retail-ready option as well.

“It’s designed after the grape box, so the produce industry already knows the box, they’re comfortable with it,” Fountain said.