Fresh-Cut Remains Full of Potential

Innovation in packaging keeps the category growing.

Shoppers are being increasingly careful with their spending. But one area that appears to be well-established and largely resistant to the economic headwinds is convenience, and it’s here that fresh-cut produce continues to perform well.

“Core fruits, such as bananas, mango, pineapple and berries, remain highly popular and translate well into fresh-cut formats that support today’s grab-and-go lifestyles,” says Ivan Brown, senior director of marketing, Fresh Del Monte North America, Miami, FL.

FOCUS ON INNOVATION

Over the years, Brown says Fresh Del Monte’s portfolio has evolved with changing consumer habits — particularly the continued growth and resilience of grab-and-go snacking. “Fresh Del Monte intentionally focused on making premium and differentiated fruit varieties more accessible through convenient pack styles that fit today’s on-the-move lifestyles,” he explains.

Another major player in fresh-cut is Salinas, CA-based Taylor Farms, a company that offers a range of chopped salad kits and mini chopped salad kits, offering variations including Caesar, Sweet Kale, Avocado Ranch and Mexican Street Corn.

Vice President of Product and Innovation Charis Neves says the mini chopped salad kits were developed in response to “a growing consumer need for lower price points and smaller portion sizes.”

PACKAGING FRESHNESS

Of course, fruit growers and processors represent only one side of the fresh-cut business. Another crucial area is that of the specialist equipment and packaging companies that make fresh-cut products possible. It’s an area where some of the most interesting innovations in the category are taking place.

Kansas City, MO-based Multivac supplies tray sealers, thermformers and flowpackers, along with stand-alone or integrated labeling, inspection and automation, all of which are designed to package delicate products like salads, cut fruit and mushrooms efficiently while maintaining product quality and presentation.

According to Industry Marketing Manager Rachael Novak, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) plays a key role in many of Multivac’s fresh-cut applications, helping extend shelf life while maintaining freshness and color.

The company’s fully integrated line solutions also enable processors to manage packaging, labeling, and inspection from a single control system.

Multivac recently launched the TX 6, a new model in its TX series of tray sealers. It combines state-of-the-art design and gentle product handling with high efficiency and a compact footprint. It has also introduced the W 500 flowpacker, which offers an efficient packaging option for produce while supporting recyclable and paper-based films.

Located in Reading, PA, Easypak supplies the fresh-cut category with thermoformed packaging solutions designed to protect product quality, improve shelf appeal, and support operational efficiencies, from grab-and-go fruit cups to family-size formats.

Marketing Manager Jessica Papke says a major focus for Easypak is moisture management, product presentation, and packaging performance in real-world retail conditions.

“In the fresh-cut category, packaging has to do more than simply contain a product — it must help preserve freshness, showcase quality, travel efficiently through distribution, and meet the expectations of today’s convenience-driven consumer,” she says.

The company recently introduced Elevate Freshness, a patented packaging technology developed to improve performance in fresh, high-moisture applications by elevating products away from any liquids. The technology is especially impactful in fresh-cut produce, where moisture control plays a major role in product quality and consumer perception, says Easypak’s vice president of sales and marketing, Brian Smith.

Based in Denver, CO, Dark Side Equipment is the licensed distributor for Japan-headquartered Astra Inc. and its line of automated peeling equipment, although it also supplies processing and juicing solutions for fresh produce.

The company recently introduced the newest Astra model, the FAP3000, to the North American market, an all-in-one pineapple peeler and coring system, which allows a single operator to peel and core 600 pineapples per hour with precision and a first-class finish, according to Chief Operating Officer Maxwell Remington Krieger.

MEETING SUSTAINABILITY TARGETS

Headquartered in Columbus, WI, American Packaging has been supplying solutions to the fresh-cut industry for the past 25 years, including laminations for salads that help maximize freshness and shelf-life.

The company recently introduced recycle-ready packaging for fresh-cut featuring films with “qualified different respiration rates,” according to technical manager Clayton Short. “They’re suitable for any salad or vegetable blend.”

According to Novak, sustainability is a major focus for both Multivac and its customers in the produce industry, singling out the company’s recyclable mono-material films and packaging formats, which “simplify the recycling process while maintaining product protection.”

Multivac, she continues, also offers solutions, such as label-sealing technologies, which can reduce the amount of plastic used in certain tray applications. “Our goal is to help produce processors meet sustainability targets while maintaining efficiency and product quality.”

TECHNOLOGY GAINS MOMENTUM

Another company on the equipment side is Taunton, MA-based Harpak-ULMA Packaging, a business that supplies on-tray sealing solutions for high-speed fresh-cut produce operations.

According to tray seal product manager Carlo Bergonzi, most of Harpak-ULMA’s recent innovations have focused on automation and line efficiency, including the Sinfonia automation platform, which enables faster, more efficient packaging lines.

In all of these, emerging technologies play a major role, particularly as producers seek greater automation and data visibility.

“Harpak-ULMA designs its equipment with open architecture controls that integrate with MES and ERP systems, enabling monitoring, predictive maintenance, and data-driven optimization,” Bergonzi explains. “This connectivity helps processors improve efficiency and reliability on high-speed production lines.”

Emerging technologies play a significant role in modern packaging solutions, says Novak, explaining that Multivac offers systems that incorporate advanced automation, digital connectivity, and integrated line control to improve efficiency and product safety.

“Processors can manage packaging, labeling, and inspection from a single interface while collecting production data that helps optimize performance,” she says. “Technologies, such as intelligent sensors and predictive maintenance tools, help reduce downtime, improve quality consistency, and minimize material waste — all of which are especially valuable in high-volume fresh-cut produce operations.”