Evaluation of Shipping Trays and Pads for Pears and Apples

Excerpts from the report: The Washington and Oregon apple and pear industries, aware of rising costs of labor and materials, long have wanted less expensive packs which would provide more protection for their fruit in transit from the packinghouse to the retail store. With new materials being developed, the industries are uncertain about the advantages and disadvantages of changing a substantial part of their production from the conventional packs to new experimental containers. This study was undertaken to evaluate new experimental shipping containers and packing materials proposed for apples and pears. When possible, direct labor requirements, material costs, and shipping costs were recorded at four packing plants. Limited supplies of the new materials and pilot methods of packing made the use of time studies for some packs not feasible. Condition on arrival of the fruit and trade acceptance of the new packs were determined at terminal markets by specialists of the Agricultural Marketing Service