A year ago, the trend in the produce industry was toward reducing or even eliminating packaging.
COVID-19 appears to have put the kibosh on that idea — at least for now — as many consumers seek out packaged product that had not been handled by other shoppers.
“Customers’ bag demand significantly increased once COVID-19 hit,” said Tracy Jones, chief operating officer and senior vice president of sales for Booth Ranches LLC, Orange Cove, Calif.
“For this upcoming season, we are gearing up for an increase of packaged navels with bag supplies and bag run time.”
About 30% of the navel oranges at Booth Ranches go into consumer packs, she said.
The most popular options are 3- and 4-pound bags.
Booth Ranches also has 3, 4- and 5-pound net or wrap bags and 6-, 8- and 10-pound mesh bags.
“Packaged citrus offers the convenience for a consumer to grab and go,” she said.
Poly bags seem to be out.
“We rarely have a customer request a poly bag,” she said.
To display those bags, the company offers a high-graphic tri-wall bin, a pop-up display bin, high-graphic boxes and reusable plastic containers.
Demand for packaged citrus is on the rise at Homegrown Organic Farms, Porterville, Calif., as well, said Scott Mabs, chief executive officer.
“Our customers are ordering more packaging, and we are fulfilling that,” he said.
Mabs estimated that the company has received 25% more requests for packaged product than last year, but the company is keeping sustainability in mind.
“We are beginning to switch over more of our packaging to readily recyclable options,” Mabs said. “That has been a big focus of ours in the last year.”
Requests for bag orders also have risen at Hronis Inc., Delano, Calif., said Jennifer Lobue, citrus category manager.
“We pack cartons, bags, RPCs, half-cartons and one-third cartons,” she said.
“We think shoppers feel safer grabbing a bag they can potentially wipe off when they get home rather than pick up a piece of fruit that has potentially been touched by other shoppers.”
Jim Saavedra, sales representative for Cecelia Packing Corp., Orange Cove, Calif., said he expects stronger demand for bags this year.
“We expect bags to be more prevalent this season due to COVID-19,” he said.
A number of retailers have switched from bulk product to bags to minimize handling, Saavedra said.
At the Chuck Olsen Co., Visalia, Calif., president Jeff Olsen said it’s been difficult to schedule time for bagging operations lately.
“We’ve had to book bags a week in advance,” he said.
He estimates that demand for bags has increased at least 50%, and he expected that demand to continue.
Bags are safer in the eyes of some consumers, he said, and they’re convenient.
“You just pick it up and throw it in the cart.”
Chuck Olsen Co. offers 3-, 4-, 5-, 8- and 10-pound bags of navels and 2-, 3- and 5-pound bags of mandarins and a 5-pound box of mandarins.
“We do good bagging business,” said Gahl Crane, sales director for Eco-Farm Corp., Temecula, Calif.
Retailers tend to prefer 4-pound bags of navels, and 3-pounders are popular as well at Eco-Farm, which packs only organic citrus.
As is the case for many shippers, Valhalla Sales & Marketing Co., Kingsburg, Calif., packs 90% or more of its mandarins in bags and offers several bag options for navels, including 4-, 8- and 10-pound sizes.
Choice grade fruit often is packed in 5-pound bags.
Fancy grade citrus goes into cartons for bulk displays.
Suntreat Packing & Shipping Co., Dinuba, Calif., puts up just about any kind of bag a customer can ask for, said Dan Kass, vice president, import/export sales and marketing.
Options include net film bags, poly bags and combo mesh-poly bags, he said.
Not too long ago, consumers and retailers were pressuring grower-shippers to focus on recyclable bags.
“The push to recyclability has been put on the back burner as people react to this virus,” Kass said.
But he said he expects the trend to return in the future.
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