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Market Gardener

Source for Produce Boxes

18 years ago

This is my second year as a commercial grower. I sell mainly to the local grocery store and restaurants. Last year I delivered my produce to the stores in what ever I could find, baskets, Wall-Mart bags, coolers (you get the picture). This year I would like to be a little more professional so IÂm getting ready to order some produce boxes but I having some trouble finding a source that will sell in small quantities (maybe 20), any suggestions?

IÂd prefer bushel boxes, but would like some with shorter sides than what IÂve been finding, if they make those.

Zach

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Comments (6)

jayreynolds
18 years ago
20 boxes is a small order. You might consider sticking with recycled boxes. The boxes bananas and other fruits come in have a lower and an upper half. Often the lower box is bare cardboard, and quite strong. What about getting a rubber stamp made saying: "Produce from xxx Farm" or something like that and stamping the bare boxes?

Shipping costs will eat you alive if mail-ordering packaging such as boxes. Look for a local supplier.
adrianag
18 years ago
I found a local box maker who will run batches as small as 100.

You might also check U-line. They have lots and lots of boxes, etc.

The one big produce packaging supplier is Monte Packaging but you usually need to get a pallet load.

Finally, check to see if there is a Buy Local campaign in Illinois. Here in Alabama the organizers have made avaialble beautiful printed boxes with the state Buy Local logo for $.85 apiece.
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I use quart and pint pulp tills for tomatoes. A quart holds around 1.5 to 2 pounds of bug maters, a pint is perfect for cherry and saladette type tomatoes. I used to use bread racks but found, especially with the delicate heirlooms, that people would handle them to death and I would take home up to 50% as damaged. With boxes few people handle the tomatoes and it is far quicker to sell by the box than by weight so you are not losing sales while weighing produce. The bread racks I either found or got from restaurants and bread stores throwing them out Here is a link that might be useful: Monte Packaging
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bucks
18 years ago
Try Jordans seed company in Minnesota. They have a good selection along with seeds. I am not sure how this stands up against other prices. Frieght can really kill you.
mbrown297
18 years ago
I get all my boxes either from the supermarket (come early when they are stocking the fruits and vegetables) or from a large produce "farmers market". They have lots of boxes and they also put a good number of good bushel baskets out for the trash.
Zach_23
Original Author
18 years ago
Thinks for the replies, I found Southern Container Corporation who is willing to sell to me in small quantities of 20 or so. They want $0.94 for the Â¾ bushel and $1.36 for the bushel boxes. But I forgot to ask about shipping. I plan on asking the grocery store to save my boxes so I can reuse them (they havenÂt minded this in the past.)

Thanks for the recommendation Bucks, do you have any contact information for JordanÂs Seeds? A website would be great.

Website For Southern Container Corporation: http://www.socontainers.com/
Thanks:
Zach
jlee503
18 years ago
Try www.jordanseeds.com

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