Fruit In Plastic Packaging - A Great Alternative To Cans

It's always a challenge when selling fruit to find the most economical way to package the product, while at the same time keeping it eye-catching enough to attract customers. There are so many different varieties of fruit, some quite small e.g. blueberries and some large e.g. whole watermelon. There is the added challenge of the seasonal nature of fruit, and while modern cold storage technology has extended the seasons for many fruits, there are some that appear only at certain times of the year e.g. mangoes from the tropical north and stone fruits from the colder climates.

Food packaging suppliers have serviced this market by developing packaging products which offer the consumer an alternative to cans. There are pros and cons for both methods of packaging, depending on things like storage facilities, length of time elapsed from purchase to use, and the way the product will be used e.g. as a fresh snack or as part of a cooked or chilled recipe.

Canned Options -

Canned fruit is convenient, durable, and nutritionally sound. It has a shelf life of two to four years, as the contents are sterilized during the canning process. This technology was first developed in the 1800's, so it has been refined and perfected over an extended period of time, and is generally safe and hygienic.

Cooks favor canned fruit as an ideal ingredient in cakes, pies, pastries, desserts etc. as the quality is generally consistent and seasonal fruits are available all year round. The fruit can have a different taste to its fresh equivalent due to the cooking process, which some people don't like, and there are some concerns over the aluminum content.

Plastic Packaging -

Fresh fruit in plastic packaging can be seen through the clear plastic, giving consumers the opportunity to look at the quality and size of the items before purchase. The fruit can be stored in the refrigerator in the packaging, often trays or small containers that either lay flat, or stack on top of one another, saving space in the refrigerator and extending the life of the product.

Perfect for school lunches, a piece of fruit can be placed into the lunch box without any preparation, and taken out and eaten as required. There are no cans to open or sharp edges for small fingers to touch.

Packaging suppliers have been quick to recognize the benefits of placing all kinds of fruit in different packaging to suit the size and shape. For example, strawberries are usually purchased in a clear plastic container with a lid, while large, soft fruits such as plums, peaches or nectarines are on trays covered by plastic wrap.

While there is no doubt that canned fruit has its place, for convenience, nutrition, taste and ease of preparation, fresh fruit is still the preferred choice for snacks, lunches and desserts.


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Dabron Packaging http://www.dabron.com.au/, a major
manufacturer of food packaging products, supplies plastic packaging to its
customer to get their fruit produce to market. This response by packaging
suppliers to consumer demand for convenience will make inroads into the canned
fruit market.