One of Europe's major fresh fruit producers and importers, The Greenery, says it has found a way to significantly improve the “relatively short” shelf life of soft fruits like strawberries and blackberries using packaging that closes using a top seal.
Working closely with its packaging supplier Sharp Interpack (whose Amesfoort, Holland and Aylesham, Kent sites co-developed the pack), it has combined a transparent APET tray with a “unique” micro-perforated anti-fog topsealed film (from Amcor) that ensures an optimal atmosphere within the tray without using additives. Its tests have shown that the shelf life of the strawberries, stored at the “ideal” temperature of 12 degs C, can be increased by three days with no loss of flavour or colour.
The topsealed lidding film is applied on a special Multivac topsealer. Sharp Interpack says the system allows throughput speeds of 200 packs/min, combined with significant material savings over conventionally lidded soft fruit packs.
