Should Organic Fresh Produce Be Packaged or Unpackaged?

Time is of the essence with consumers who are seeking more convenience in their shopping trips, and packaged produce is a popular choice in today’s hectic lifestyle, with the growth of packaged produce in the US estimated to increase by close to 5 percent by 2030.

There are two questions that always seem to arise at a merchandising meeting regarding organic fresh produce. The first is, Should organic fresh produce be displayed in its own section or alongside its conventional counterpart. And the second question is, Should organic fresh produce be packaged or sold loose?

Most produce departments are already displaying organic produce in a separate section. But there is a delicate balance when it comes to offering shoppers organic produce either packaged or loose, with advantages and disadvantages to these methods of merchandising.

Advantages of packaged organic produce:

Most produce departments are already displaying organic produce in a separate section. But there is a delicate balance when it comes to offering shoppers organic produce either packaged or loose, with advantages and disadvantages to these methods of merchandising.

Disadvantages of packaged organic produce:

Advantages of loose organic produce:

Disadvantages of loose organic produce:

During the COVID pandemic, manufacturers and retailers introduced more packaging to the produce departments, giving people additional protection from consumers handling loose fresh produce with their hands.

Customers are constantly touching surfaces and thus picking up microbes. For example, customers grab hold of a shopping cart handle when entering a store. How many other customers touched that same cart? What did they touch prior to that, and what microbes were left on the handle? What microbes were left on the several pieces of fresh loose produce that was touched on the display?

Hand-to-hand or hand-to-food contact can transmit and spread bacteria during product processing. One of the most sensitive areas this could take place is the fresh-fruit and vegetable cutting and packing process in the produce back room. That is why it is always important for employees to wash their hands and wear plastic gloves in preparing the product.

During the COVID pandemic, manufacturers and retailers introduced more packaging to the produce departments, giving people additional protection from consumers handling loose fresh produce with their hands.

Some companies’ organic produce programs consist of all loose produce, while others have gone with a full packaged section. The most desirable program is one that is a combined section of both loose and packaged items, but ultimately it is up to company management to determine what program bests suits a given retailer's needs.

Before deciding what approach to take, try testing loose, packaged, or a combined section in just a couple of stores. Then determine the one that best fits your organic program. Let the sales movement help you make your decision.