Packaging of Potato

Introduction

Packaging of Potato

• India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables.

• India produces quite a huge quantity of potatoes in the world.

• It will have no significance if potatoes don’t reach the consumer in

fresh and palatable condition at a reasonable price.

• Post-harvest losses are occur in potatoes in the period between

harvesting and consumption.

• Due to heavy post harvest losses, a considerable gap between

production and availability of potatoes to consumers.

• Thus, there is an urgent need to adopt proper post harvest

management practices by adopting improved packaging, handling

and efficient transportation methods to reduce such losses.

• Packaging is required to keep fruits, vegetables and root crops

in good condition until it is soled and consumed.

• Packaging serves as an efficient handling unit to carry produce

from field to consumer.

• The package should protect the produce against rotting.

• Packages should also protect the produce from damage.

Introduction cont…..

Packaging of Potato

Definition of Food Packaging

Food packaging is defined as a mean or system by which a fresh

produce or processed product will reach from the production

centre to the ultimate consumer in safe and sound condition at an

affordable price

Packaging of Potato

Functions of Packaging Material

Two main functions of packaging are:

1. To assemble the produce into convenient units for handling.

2. To protect the produce during distribution, storage and

marketing.

Packaging of Potato

• Serves as an efficient handling unit• Protects from mechanical damage

• Protects against moisture loss• Provides clean and sanitary storage• Should be able to prevent pilferage• Provides sales and service motivation• Reduces the cost of transport and marketing• Should look attractive• Should add value to the produce• Should provide hygienic conditions to the produce

Packaging materials serve the following purposes

Packaging of Potato

Packaging Materials for Fresh Produce

1. Basket made of woven strips of leaves, bamboo, plastic etc.

2. Sacks: flexible, made of plastic or jute.

i) Bags: small size sack

ii) Nets: sacks made of open mesh

3. Wooden crates

4. Fibreboard boxes

i) Solid fibreboard boxes

ii) Corrugated fibreboard boxes

5. Plastic crates

6. Biodegradable plastics

7. New innovations in packaging of fruits, vegetables and root crops

8. Pallet boxes and shipping containers

Packaging of Potato

Packaging Materials for Processed Products

Packaging for processed products is of several types:

1. Glass containers

2. Metal cans

3. Aluminium foil

4. Plastic materials

5. Collapsible containers

6. Composite containers

Packaging of Potato

Cushioning Materials and Wrap

• Dry grass, paddy straw, leaves, saw dust, paper shreds etc. can

be used as cushioning material for packaging fruits and

vegetables.

• It should dissipate the heat of respiration of the produce.

• It should be free from infection and should be physiologically

inactive.

• Moulded pulp tray, honeycomb portion, cell pack are used

replacing the cushioning material.

Packaging of Potato

Cushioning Materials and Wrap

• Shrink-wrapping of individual produce items is a new and very

useful technique.

• Shrink-wrapping with an engineered plastic wrap can reduce

• shrinkage,

• protect the produce from disease,

• reduce mechanical damage and

• provide a good surface for stick-on labels

Packaging of Potato

Precautions during Packing

• Containers should not be filled either too loosely or too tightly for

best results

• Loose products may vibrate against each other and cause bruising

• While over-packing results in compression bruising.

• Proper filling along with cushioning can minimize the bruising

damage.

Packaging of Potato

Packing of Potato

Packaging of Potato

• Fibre mesh sacks, plastic film sacks, burlap bags are

commonly used packaging materials for potatoes

• Tinted plastic bags are used to reduce light transmission to the

tubers

• Tubers in the transparent film bags should be protected from

direct sunlight to avoid greening of the tubers

• For local markets, potatoes are taken in plastic crates

Potato packaging bag

25X50 mesh potato packaging bag

Potato Packaging

Leno bag for potato packaging

Packaging of Potato

Potato Packaging

500 X 667 Holland Potatoes Packaging

Packaging of Potato

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/326949402/fresh_potato.html

Source: http://www.ecopac.co.uk/AboutUs.aspx

Potato Box for Packaging

Packaging of Potato

Flexible packaging for potato products

Processed Potato Product Packaging

Packaging of Potato

Packaging products from potatoes

• 100% biodegradable

• 100% compostable

• Not harmful to human, animal or marine life even if eaten by

mistake

• Main ingredient is Potato starch

• Manufactured by compression moulding

• Product range: plates, trays, bowls and

• Punnets

Packaging of Potato

• Food packaging is a system by which the fresh or processed

product will reach the consumer from the production centre in safe

and sound condition at an affordable cost.

• It serves two basic objectives, i.e., marketing and logistics.

• Adopting improved packaging, handling and transportation methods

during distribution and marketing can successfully reduce huge

post harvest losses.

• The product requirements, the marketing system and the personnel

preference will determine the type of packaging material to be

used.

• Potatoes can also be used to make biodegradable packaging material.

Let Us Sum Up

Packaging of Potato