Organic produce packaging makes a comeback

The focus on eliminating as much plastic and packaging as possible that permeated the produce industry not too long ago seems to have dissipated with the COVID-19 pandemic as renewed emphasis is placed on food safety that packaging affords.

There are a lot of reasons to pack produce in plastic, especially organic produce, said Matt Seeley, CEO of the Organic Produce Network.

Packaging can help ensure an accurate ring by preventing premium-priced organic fruits and vegetables from being rung up as less costly conventional product, provide a more healthful image for the contents and present an on-package platform to explain more about the product, its uses and company backstory, Seeley said.

The trend toward pouches and bags at retail is nothing new, said Addie Pobst, organic integrity and logistics coordinator for Viva Tierra Organic Inc., Sedro-Woolley, Wash.

“That’s a trend that’s been growing for a number of years,” she said.

Viva Tierra packs apples in 2- and 3-pound bags.

Pobst acknowledged pressure from consumers and retailers for more sustainable packaging options.

“We’ve tried a number of different ways of reducing the plastic impact of our product, but we have not yet found that Holy Grail of sustainable packaging that really gets the job done,” she said.

She pointed out that, even if product is not bagged at the packinghouse, consumers are likely to place it in a bag they pull off a roller in the product department.

“Whether we put them in a bag at the packinghouse or not, the consumer most likely takes them home from the store in a plastic bag,” Pobst said.

Los Angeles-based 4Earth Farms is working on a new line of compostable, recyclable packaging, said Mark Munger, vice president of sales and marketing.

The items the company grows — such as Brussels sprouts, green beans and shishito peppers — all lend themselves to packaging, Munger said.

“They don’t do well sold in bulk.”

The macro trend in the industry will continue to go toward more sustainable packaging, he said.

“We’ve been driving down that road to reduce the thickness of the plastic that we’re using,” Munger said.

The shorter-term micro trend dictated by COVID-19, however, is toward packaged product and food safety.

“People want to know that their produce hasn’t been tampered with, or it hasn’t been touched by somebody else.”

The company introduced organic mini sweet peppers in a compostable, 1-pound pack at the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit in October, he said.

“The pandemic has caused consumers to alter their shopping habits drastically and look to organic packaged options as their go-to apple and pear vehicle,” said Katie Harmon, communications manager for Stemilt Growers LLC, Wenatchee, Wash.    

“Consumers are shopping with the ‘stock-up’ mindset, so store trip frequency is down and basket size is up, with consumers filling their baskets with shelf-stable, healthy snack items they feel good about eating and feeding their families,” she said.

Convenience and grab-and-go packs are top of mind, which is what makes Stemilt’s Artisan Organics Lil Snappers 3-pound apple bag and 2-pound pear bag and Apple Lover 5-pound bag great options, Harmon said.

Organic apples tend to grow slightly smaller than conventional apples, making them perfect for bags, said Chuck Sinks, president of sales and marketing for Sage Fruit Co. LLC, Yakima, Wash.

“Packaging of organic produce provides a perfect grab-and-go option for consumers,” Sinks said. 

In addition, since organic produce tends to be more expensive than conventional produce, there can be sticker shock at checkout if consumers bag their own items and aren’t aware of the amount they’ve bagged, he said.

“By utilizing pre-packed bags with pre-determined weights and then pricing them accordingly, consumers know exactly what they are getting and will be less frustrated at the register,” Sinks said.

Organic apples and pears from Sage Fruit Co. are available in bulk and bagged options, he said.

All of the products from All Seasons Fresh Produce LLC, Forest Park, Ga., are packaged, said Eva Moghaddam, owner, president and CEO.

That includes 8- and 16-ounce packages of chili peppers and 1-pound pouch bags of herbs, such as mint and basil.

The company plans to launch a 4-ounce pack of herbs soon, she said. 

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