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Freedonia Market Research Press Releases Berries & Apples Remain Best Opportunities for Fresh Fruit Packaging Suppliers

Berries & Apples Remain Best Opportunities for Fresh Fruit Packaging Suppliers

by Corinne Gangloff

August 24, 2021

Cleveland OH, August 24, 2021 – The Freedonia Group finds that, apples and berries will remain the best opportunities for fresh fruit packaging suppliers through 2024, together accounting for 51% of demand:

  • Growth in apple packaging demand will be above average, supported by a projected increase in domestic apple production and rising demand for apple slices packaged individually for convenience and snacking.
  • Berries are relatively intensive users of higher cost rigid packaging containers due to their greater need for protection compared to other fruits, and packaging demand will also benefit from rebounds in domestic production and increasing availability of smaller sizes.

Nevertheless, strong increases in ready-to-eat fruit demand will also yield growth opportunities for packaging suppliers in other applications, as well, particularly melons, grapes, pineapple, mangoes, peaches, and pears.

Fresh Fruit Packaging Demand to Climb 4.0% Annually Through 2024

A new Freedonia Group analysis forecasts demand for fresh fruit packaging to increase 4.0% per year to $2.4 billion in 2024. Sales gains will be supported by:

  • rising demand for fresh fruit sold in some form of packaging, including pouches, bags, and rigid plastic containers
  • more intensive use of higher value packaging that offers convenience and ease-of-use features, superior performance and shelf life, and/or improved environmental footprint
  • increasing sales of ready-to-eat (RTE) pre-cut fruit such as apple slices, melon spears, and citrus segments that are typically sold in tubs, cups, or other rigid plastic containers

Continued elevated retail grocery spending in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic will bolster gains, at least in the near term. Nonetheless, increases will be limited by relatively slow growth in overall domestic fresh fruit output, with declines projected for a few key fruit types, including citrus.

Want to Learn More?

Fresh Fruit Packaging analyzes the US market for fresh fruit packaging. 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.

Products:

  • retail-ready and other corrugated boxes
  • plastic containers (clamshells, tubs, cups, bowls, two-piece containers, pails, domed containers, lidded buckets)
  • bags, including bag liners (e.g., plastic mesh, paper, textile)
  • trays and platters
  • 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, etc.

Applications:

  • berries
  • apples
  • citrus
  • melons
  • grapes
  • other fruit (e.g., avocados, bananas, mangoes, peaches, pineapples, plums, etc.)

In addition, demand is segmented by packaging material (plastic; paper and paperboard; and other materials such as molded pulp, mesh, wood, and textiles), as well as by packaging format (ready-to-eat and other formats).

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