Food packaging · Fruit and vegetables
Fruit and Vegetable Packaging: Freshness That Reaches the Shelf
Which film keeps respiring produce fresh from packhouse to shelf and still presents it well at retail? orfix NJB is a packaging partner rather than a product supplier, so we start with your produce instead of a catalogue.
Fresh fruit and vegetables go on breathing after harvest, so the pack has to let them respire rather than seal them airtight. That calls for managed gas exchange through perforation, anti-fog so the pack stays clear in the chiller, and a film matched to both the produce and the line. NJB Packaging has supplied food manufacturers across Ireland and beyond for more than 40 years, and orfix now brings that capability to producers across Europe.
Common challenges in fruit and vegetable packing
Packing fresh produce in the wrong film leads to predictable failures. Each one traces back to the film choice, and the packaging options further down this page address them.
Respiration and freshness
Seal respiring produce in an airtight pack and heat and moisture build up until it spoils. The answer is controlled gas exchange: micro-perforation for a measured flow of gases, or macro-perforation for high-respiration produce, with the film matched to the respiration rate.
Shelf life and waste
Condensation, mould and over-ripening drive retail losses and returns. Anti-fog keeps the pack clear so the produce stays saleable, and a managed atmosphere combined with perforation adds days on shelf.
Line compatibility
Berries, cut produce and whole heads each suit a different type of line: a flow wrapper, a tray sealer, or an L-sealer and heat tunnel. The film has to fit the machine, not the other way round.
Recyclability in practice
Not every high-clarity produce film is easy to recycle, and we say so openly. A mono-material or recyclable route exists where the produce and shelf-life targets allow it, but it does not suit every line.
Packaging options for fruit and vegetables
No single film is best for every kind of fresh produce. The choice depends on your produce, your line and your shelf-life target, and the three options below range from breathable flow wrap through clear lidded trays to tight shrink sleeves.
OPP Flow Wrap Films
High-clarity flow wrap for respiring produce. Micro-perforation uses laser-cut holes for controlled gas exchange, while macro-perforation uses visible holes for maximum airflow on high-respiration produce. Hole sizes are agreed individually. An anti-fog option keeps the pack clear, the film is MAP-ready and it runs on standard horizontal flow wrappers.
Example: tomatoes in a perforated OPP flow pack
Tray Lidding Films
For retail trays of berries and cut produce, where the look on the shelf matters. On PET trays, mono-PET lidding is the recyclable option, in anti-fog and laser-perforated grades. Lidding films are also available for PP, PE and CPET trays. The lidding is MAP-ready for tray-sealing lines.
Example: blueberries in a PET tray with an anti-fog lid
POF Shrink Films
Tight-fitting shrink film for whole produce and multipacks. Cross-linked POF offers excellent clarity, with anti-fog and pre-perforated options. It runs on an L-sealer and heat tunnel, a different type of machine from a flow wrapper.
Example: broccoli in a POF shrink sleeve
Flow wrap, tray or shrink? Flow wrap suits whole or loose produce on a flow wrapper. A lidded tray works for berries and cut produce that need an anti-fog window, and POF shrink fits whole heads and multipacks on an L-sealer and heat tunnel. If you are still deciding within the flow-wrap family, the flow wrap films overview compares OPP with PE before you settle on a grade. We help you make the choice that fits your produce and your line.
How we match the film to your product
orfix NJB selects the film for your fruit or vegetable product with the same four-question needs analysis we apply to every food-packaging material. That way the specification is built on your actual conditions rather than a default.
Product type and shelf life
Which produce you pack (berries, cut and prepared, whole heads, herbs), its respiration rate and your target days on shelf.
Production efficiency
Which line the pack runs on (horizontal flow wrapper, tray sealer, or L-sealer and heat tunnel) and at what throughput.
Pack function
Whether you need micro- or macro-perforation for respiration, anti-fog for a clear window in the chiller, or a gas-flush or MAP atmosphere.
Presentation
Clarity that shows the produce, a clean breathable pack, and print where the brand carries graphics.
Samples are available, and we specify the material for the produce you actually pack rather than for a generic category.
Industries we supply
NJB Packaging has supplied food manufacturers in Ireland and further afield for more than 40 years. As part of orfix International, it now offers the same hands-on partnership to fresh-produce companies across Europe.
Every project begins with your produce, your line and your shelf life. Whether you are a small artisanal grower or a large produce packer, we match the film to the application, regardless of company size.
- Growers and packhouses
Films and bags that protect fresh produce from field to packhouse, produced in house in Europe. - Fresh-produce packers
Flow-wrap, tray-lidding and barrier formats matched to high-throughput packing lines. - Retail produce brands
Consistent, certified quality backed by more than 40 years of NJB food-packaging know-how.
40+
40+ years of food-packaging expertise (NJB, Maynooth, Ireland)
10,000+
10,000+ customers trust orfix quality and service
2,000+
2,000+ products covering real-world packing needs
5
5 European sites with in-house production
Start a Packaging Consultation
Choosing packaging with us is not a catalogue exercise. It starts with your produce, your line and your shelf-life goal, and ends with a material specification you can run.
Frequently asked questions
We would be pleased to advise you individually!
Your competent partner with a full range for everyone who counts, packs, transports or stores.
