Skip navigation
Reports & Analysis Custom Research Research Subscriptions
Sign In / Create Account Cart
Sign In / Create Account Cart
  • Reports & Analysis
  • Custom Research
  • Research Subscriptions

Resources

  • Press Releases
  • Blog
  • Resources & Downloads
  • Impact Tracker

The Freedonia Group

  • Contact
  • About
  • Our Staff
  • Help Center
  • Career Opportunities
Back to Freedonia Group

Fresh Fruit Packaging

Industry Reports, Global

Report Overview

Featuring 34 tables and 29 figures – now available in Excel and Powerpoint! Learn More

Fresh Fruit Packaging

This study analyzes the US market for fresh fruit packaging, defined as fresh, minimally processed fruits, and for the purposes of this report includes fresh-cut fruits.

Fruit packaging can be segmented broadly by rigid and flexible. Specific products covered include the following:

  • retail-ready and other corrugated boxes (regular slotted containers, full telescoping boxes, boxes with cut-outs for display purposes, open-top tray-style boxes, fold-over gift boxes, bulk bins)
  • plastic containers (clamshells, tubs, cups, bowls, square and rectangular two-piece containers, pails, domed containers, lidded buckets)
  • bags, including bag liners (e.g., plastic mesh, paper, textile)
  • trays and platters (including molded pulp, rigid plastic, expanded polystyrene foam, and paperboard types)
  • pouches (pillow and stand-up)
  • baskets, punnets, and tills
  • other products, including rigid plastic containers (RPCs), plastic film, foam boxes, wood crates, folding cartons, sleeves, paperboard partitions, tissue paper, and absorption and ventilation pads

For products packaged in combination-type formats – such as a tray of peppers enclosed in a pillow pouch – the value of each type of packaging is counted separately and included within each respective product segment.

Excluded from the scope of this study are:

  • canned and frozen fruits and vegetables
  • packaging for nuts, herbs, seeds, spices, and other items commonly sold in produce departments other than fresh fruits and vegetables
  • plastic and paper retail bags
  • plastic bags provided in produce departments for customer self-service
  • bag closures and separately sold lids
  • rubber bands and twist ties
  • restaurant and foodservice carryout containers, including those used for in-store prepared foods
  • packaging used for canned, frozen, and dried fruits and vegetables
  • pallet wrap
  • corrugated displays other than bulk bins (i.e., freestanding or hanging displays designed to hold packaged goods)

Demand is also discussed by fruit applications.

In addition, demand is segmented by packaging material:

  • plastic
  • paper and paperboard
  • other materials (e.g., molded pulp, cotton and plastic mesh, wood, textiles)

Finally, demand is analyzed by packaging formats

  • ready-to-eat (e.g., pre-cut, pre-peeled, pre-washed)
  • other formats (unprepared fruit sold in bulk or prepackaged)

Historical data (2009, 2014, and 2019) and forecasts for 2024 are presented for produce packaging demand in current US dollars (including inflation) by product and application. The terms “shipments”, “production”, and “output” are used interchangeably in the study, as are the terms “demand”, “sales”, and “market”, which are defined as domestic shipments, plus imports, minus exports.

Packaging

Demand by Packaging Material

Demand for fresh fruit packaging is projected to increase 4.0% per year to $2.4 billion in 2024. Plastic packaging will account for the largest share of absolute gains:

  • Plastic accounts for the majority of fresh fruit packaging sales (52% in 2019), as it is the most commonly used material for rigid packaging such as clamshells, cups, plastic containers, trays, platters, and baskets, and for flexible packaging such as bags, pouches, and film.
  • Plastic packaging will also see solid growth due to its performance advantages including light weight, moisture resistance, enhanced barrier properties, and puncture resistance.
  • Source reduction efforts favor flexible plastic packaging formats, such as pouches. The use of foam trays with plastic film overwrap will be slow due to sustainability efforts, although these are often replaced with other plastic packaging formats.

Outside of plastics, paperboard is most common packaging material due to its use in the production of corrugated boxes, which are widely used for the shipping and display of fresh fruit. Demand for this material will benefit from the rising popularity of retail-ready boxes, which are of a high-quality and offer appealing aesthetics.

Other fruit packaging materials are projected to increase only 1.8% per year to $126 million in 2024. Molded pulp and mesh make up the vast majority of demand in this category:

  • Suppliers of molded pulp will benefit from its environmental friendliness as sustainability increases in importance..
  • Demand for mesh bags will be supported by the increasing domestic production and sales of apples, onions, key limes, and other fruit.
Fresh Fruit Packaging

Fresh Fruit Industry Outlook

Although the US is one of the world’s leading agricultural producers and supplies a significant amount of fresh fruit, the country is a net importer of fruit, much of which is in the form of fruit not grown in the continental US (e.g., bananas) or for fruit that is grown in insufficient quantities for US demand (e.g., citrus).

US production of fresh fruit is projected to increase less than 1.0% to 27.9 billion pounds in 2024. While overall production declined slightly between 2009 and 2019, output is expected to return to the more typical growth rate of production seen in the US.

Fruit consumption has generally increased at a moderate rate, with imports accounting for a larger share of consumption than in the past:

  • Mexico and Canada are the leading sources of US fruit imports. For instance, Mexico and several countries in Central and South America are leading importers of bananas. Although bananas are widely eaten in the US (nearly 30 pounds per capita), there is almost no US banana production.
  • Other fresh fruit items supplied heavily by imports include mangoes, limes, pineapples, and grapes.

Demand by Packaging Product

Demand for fresh fruit packaging is projected to increase 4.0% per year to $2.4 billion in 2024. There is considerable variation in the importance and growth outlook for the various fruit packaging products:

  • Corrugated boxes account for the leading share of fruit packaging demand, supported by their widespread use as primary packaging for larger, sturdier fruits such as citrus, melons, and apples, as well as by their use as secondary packaging for containers of berries and grapes.
  • Plastic containers – mostly clamshells – are the second leading product type and are commonly used for smaller and more fragile fruits, such as berries, as well as for pre-cut and pre-sliced RTE fruits (e.g., apple slices, melon spears).

The fastest gains are projected for pouches – particularly stand-up types – as handled and resealable pouches are increasingly favored for their convenience and reduced plastic use compared to clamshells.

Fresh Fruit Packaging Demand by Product 2009-2024

Table of Contents

    • $270.00

    • $471.41

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

      • $293.54

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

    • $838.49

      • $270.00

      • $333.98

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

    • $1,198.57

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

      • $768.13

        • $270.00

        • $281.39

        • $306.50

      • $270.00

    • $1,311.98

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

      • $443.69

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

    • $1,612.64

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

      • $270.00

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

      • $270.00

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

      • $270.00

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

      • $270.50

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

      • $270.00

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

    • $298.57

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

        • $270.00

    • $2,436.00

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

      • $1,323.96

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

      • $270.00

      • $352.33

        • $270.00

        • $270.00

      • $406.32

Purchase Options

Purchase Report

Select your license:

  • $2,900.00
  • $3,500.00
  • $5,500.00
  • — —
    Section prices in Table of Contents

Subscription Options

License by subscription

This report is available through our subscription services.

Subscription Pricing
Already have a subscription? Log in.

Questions & Assistance

Our representatives are available to help answer your questions.

Live Chat is Offline
Email us

Share This Report

Copied to clipboard. Could not copy to clipboard.

Download a Free Sample Report Now

Sample Reports include examples of all the tables, charts, infographics and topics included in this study.

Use Licenses

The Single User License (SUL) authorizes a single individual to use the electronic study acquired. Agreement to the SUL is required in order to purchase the study. If you require more than one user a Departmental Site License or Global Site License should be purchased. 

The Departmental Site License (DSL) authorizes up to five users to share the study acquired. Agreement to the DSL is required in order to purchase the study. If your organization requires more than five users, the Global Site License should be purchased.

The Global Site License (GSL) allows everyone in your organization to share the study intelligence. Agreement to the Global Site License terms is necessary in order to purchase it. 

;

Related Reports and Studies

  • Active Packaging: United States

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts US active packaging demand in US dollars at the manufacturers' level to 2019.

    October 2015 24 pages
    Free sample available
  • Intelligent Packaging: United States

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts US intelligent packaging demand in US dollars at the manufacturers' level to 2019.

    October 2015 29 pages
    Free sample available
  • Aseptic Packaging: United States

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts US aseptic packaging demand in US dollars at the manufacturers' level to 2020.

    March 2016 30 pages
    Free sample available
  • Caps & Closures

    Industry Reports

    Caps & Closures presents historical demand data (2005, 2010, 2015) plus forecasts for 2020 and 2025 by product (e.g., threaded, unthreaded, dispensing, child-resistant, screw and lug, crowns, roll-ons, paperboard, elastomer and rubber) and market (e.g., beverages, pharmaceuticals, food, automotive chemicals, household cleaning chemicals, cosmetics and toiletries).

    June 2016 333 pages
    Free sample available
  • In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) Test Packaging

    Industry Reports

    In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) Packaging provides historical data (2005, 2010 and 2015) plus forecasts (2020 and 2025) by product (primary containers, IVD packaging accessories) and application.

    June 2016 174 pages
    Free sample available
  • World Wine Packaging

    Industry Reports

    World Wine Packaging analyzes the world wine packaging market. It presents historical data (2005, 2010, 2015) plus forecasts (2020, 2025) for supply and demand.

    July 2016 358 pages
    Free sample available
  • In Vitro Diagnostic Packaging: United States

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts US in vitro diagnostic (IVD) packaging demand and shipments in US dollars at the manufacturers' level to 2020.

    June 2016 28 pages
    Free sample available
  • Wine Packaging: United States

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts US wine packaging demand in US dollars at the manufacturers' level to 2020.

    July 2016 26 pages
    Free sample available
  • World Wine Packaging

    Focus Reports

    This report forecasts total world demand in 2020 for wine packaging by product and major world region in US dollars at the manufacturers' level.

    July 2016 31 pages
    Free sample available
  • Retail E-Commerce Packaging Market in the US by Product, Market and Merchandise Type

    Industry Reports

    This Freedonia industry study analyzes the $2.5 billion market for retail e-commerce packaging in the United States.

    November 2016 180 pages
    Free sample available
View More

Have unique research needs?

Freedonia Custom Research listens intently to your needs and objectives. Then we work diligently to define a service offering to meet them.
Learn About Our Custom Research Services

Stay informed with Freedonia

Receive periodic updates about new market research in areas relevant to your business. Have the convenience of Freedonia research at your fingertips when you need it.
  • Contact
  • About
  • Help Center
  • Career Opportunities
  • Press
  • User Agreement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map
Facebook Linkedin Twitter

Additional Resources

  • Market Size Resources
  • Lawn Mowers Research
  • Global Lubricants Research
  • Global Paint & Coatings Research
  • Global Industrial Valves Research
  • Global Agricultural Equipment Research
  • Indoor Air Quality Equipment Research
  • Global Adhesives & Sealants Research
  • Hardscaping Products Research
  • Residential Landscaping Research
  • Food Packaging Research
  • Global Carpets & Rugs Research
  • Global Residential HVAC Research
Copyright © 2023 MarketResearch.com, Inc. All rights reserved.