Cropping that can spread from crop to crop .
Ÿ Use your harvest containers and tools only for produce . Never use them for storing chemicals or as trash containers . Use separate containers for collecting culls during grading and packing .
Ÿ Inspect reusable containers before harvest to make sure they are in good repair and free of splinters , nails , or other embedded objects . Food-contact totes , bins , and other harvest containers that cannot be repaired or adequately cleaned should be thrown away .
Ÿ During the off-season , best practices are to store foodcontact harvest containers indoors off the floor in a clean , dry place . If containers must be stored outside , clean and sanitize them before using them the next year .
Ÿ Keep pallets clean . Consider switching to plastic pallets , which are easier to clean .
Ÿ Develop standard operating procedures for sanitizing picking containers and harvest equipment .
Packaging decision could spell success or failure in the agriculture sector-MPACT Selecting the correct packaging is a fundamental decision for players in beleaguered agriculture sector .
Suppliers to local and international markets depend heavily on the durability of their chosen packaging to protect their produce on the journey from field to shelf .. Bruce Strong , CEO of leading paper and packaging company Mpact , says that innovation in the design and science behind packaging yields significant benefits in terms of cost savings , efficiency , brand equity and recognition . Mpact is the largest provider of corrugated and plastic packaging solutions to the South African agricultural sector . Innovative packaging solutions are the result of a number of important considerations regarding durability , weight , size and type of materials used . Packaging , whether corrugated or plastic , must be robust enough to protect the produce through to the retailer and ultimately , the consumer , to ensure that farmers get the best price for their goods . Packaging also needs to have vertical strength when stacked to withstand up to 1 500 kilograms on the bottom layer . This is where the science behind packaging becomes critical ; it needs to be robust enough for stacking and light enough to remain economical . Transport is a large cost for the agriculture sector and through innovation in light-weighting , Mpact is able to achieve cost reductions for their customers . In Mpact ' s Plastics division , the use of plastic jumbo bins instead of the traditional wooden bins has shown significant financial benefits in the agriculture industry . A study conducted for a fruit farm in the Grabouw-Elgin area in the Western Cape revealed total cost savings of R138.69 per bin per annum when switching from traditional wooden bins to Mpact ' s Jumbo Bins , with a payback period of three years .. Plastic bins weigh 45 % less than wooden bins , which enables quicker and safer handling and stacking . Bins can be vertically stacked up to eight units high because of a positive interlocking mechanism , which is safer than wooden bin and also means that more produce can be transported . Furthermore , the inbuilt ventilation reduces cooling time and saves energy , and a clean , non-porous surface provides a hygienic , bacteria-free environment . Ultimately this means that the produce arrives at its destination in a better condition when compared to wooden bins . Mpact Plastic Containers manufactures a range of plastic containers used in the harvesting and processing of fruit and vegetables , while Mpact Corrugated manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of printed and unprinted converted corrugated products , including board , which we use to manufacture corrugated packaging , corrugated boxes , diecut cases , folded glued cases , trays and point-of-sale displays . All packaging is custom-made to specific customer needs and can be printed as required on site .
www . farmersreviewafrica . com July - August 2016
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