Potato packing solution for traceability reduced waste: premium app for potato packing, storage, and processing potato for wholesale & food service.
Manage the entire potato packing process from delivery, processing (sizing, sorting, french fries manufacture, grading) thru to to sales, dispatch, and traceability & recall.
Market Report Austria, KW 13:
'Breather for potato packing companies, increasing onion exports'
The situation on the Austrian market for table potatoes has settled again after the extremely turbulent past weeks. Many households are now well stocked with food. Sales in the food retail trade have declined accordingly in recent days. In any case, the catering and wholesale trade has been almost at a standstill since the beginning of last week. Exports are also still not an issue. Uncertainty in view of the recent sales slackness does not arise however in the industry. Inventories are now quite manageable and should be sufficient for domestic supplies until the start of the early potato season. Farmers are also still willing to sell.
There is no change in prices compared to the previous week. In Lower Austria at the beginning of the week a price range of 22 to 28 Euro/100 kg depending on variety and quality was mentioned, whereby 25 Euro/100 kg are usually paid for wireworm-free, small packable premium goods with AMA quality seal. Prices of up to 32 Euro/100 kg were reported from Upper Austria. However, only very manageable quantities are available here.
Potato packing by farmsoft for less waste and better potato traceability in potato packing & processing
Potato packing by farmsoft for less waste and better potato traceability in potato packing & processing
Rising export numbers
The Austrian onion market is still characterised by strong demand. Sales in the domestic food retail trade have calmed down again after the numerous stockpiling purchases by consumers in recent weeks. Recently there has been increasing interest in exports, especially from South-Eastern Europe. Export prices have risen accordingly. There are no price changes on the domestic market for the time being. For onions, cleaned and sorted in the box, prices between 24 and 28 Euro/100 kg were recently paid. For qualitatively weaker or smaller batches, the price level is lower.
Potato packing by farmsoft for less waste and better potato traceability in potato packing & processing
Potato packing by farmsoft for less waste and better potato traceability in potato packing & processing
Sales in the food retail sector are normalising
The Lower Austrian carrot market continues to be in good shape. Sales in the domestic food retail sector have recently returned to normal. Exports are reporting increasing interest in Austrian goods. There is no change in price for the time being.
NC sweet potato grower successfully installs new packing line
Southern Produce Distributors, Inc. a grower, packer and shipper of sweet potatoes, has installed a new packing line in their warehouse facility located in Faison, NC.
The new packing line, a Hagan 2, runs simultaneously with Southern Produce’s original packing line, doubling efficiency and minimizing operational costs. The Hagan 2 runs five lanes with a computerized “photohead” sizer that measures the dimensions of the sweet potatoes to ensure consistent shape and weight.
“The Hagan optical heads are ideal for the way we pack our produce,” stated Heath Johnsey, Operations Manager for Southern Produce, “It allows Southern Produce to fit any packing size that’s required by any customer. With the Hagan 2, we can sort from the smallest to the largest sweet potato that may fit customers’ needs.”
Furthermore, it has a state-of-the-art box scale system, which allows for precise weight determination and real-time adjustability.
Since becoming fully operational on January 1, 2018, the new packing line has been tested to its full capacity and to its lowest capacity with minimum to no issues.
“We continuously strive to initiate innovative ways to be more competitive and offer exceptional product to our customers, stated Kelley Precythe, President and owner of Southern Produce, “The addition of a packing line enables us to do just that.”
Potato packing company receives ACOA support
W.P. Griffin, a potato packer in Elmsdale, Canada has receieved ACOA support for the installation of ventilation equipment designed to extend storage time while preserving the quality of the produce.
The Atlantic Provinces Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is providing West Prince potato packer with a $103,612 repayable contribution to help with equipment upgrades. ACOA claims the equipment will extend the packing season and create opportunities for more year-round employment in the industry.
Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, suggested the investment is an example of government putting in place the right conditions for growth. He believes the funding should help the industry grow and benefit the community with the creation of more jobs that were once only seasonal.
source: journalpioneer.com
Kenya: German firm to set up seven potato packing plants
The potato sector in Nyandarua county has received a major boost after an international German firm has committed to set up seven potato pack houses. The officials of BASF, a leading chemical company, visited Nyandarua governor Francis Kimemia, where they pledged to support the project estimated to cost over Sh500 million (€4.4 mln).
The county and the company are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in April of this year. BASF Vice President for Africa, Michael Gotsche, expects the construction work to commence in October: “Through BASF’s Performance Material Solutions, Nyandarua farmers will be able to store their produce under hygienic and optimum storage conditions in packhouse facilities currently being developed.”
He noted that a technical committee whose activities would be coordinated by Kenya Investment Authority had been formed to see to it that the project run smoothly.
Source: capitalfm.co.ke
UK veg firm plans potato packing operation move
A leading UK vegetable supplier, QV Foods, says it has entered a period of consultation with about 140 staff at March, Cambridgeshire, as it prepares to move the operation to Holbeach.
The firm says if the move goes ahead it will create 125 new roles at Holbeach.
A spokeswoman for the £140 million a year turnover company refused to say how many staff currently work at the Holbeach site.
The company stresses that it hopes to minimise redundancies by finding suitable roles for as many of its affected March employees as possible.
“The proposal would help the company address its cost base and capacity needs for current business volumes whilst creating headroom for future growth.”
“The owners of QV Foods are fully committed to growing the business for the future, but the company has to have an efficient cost platform on which to do this.”
“The proposal to consolidate the potato business at the Holbeach site, which sits at the centre of our farming and packing operations, is a logical step to achieving this.”
Source: Peterborough Today/ potatopro.com
Would Polish potato shortfall benefit UK packing market?
A strong demand for fresh packing supplies from Eastern Europe helped provide support to the packing market in the latter half of the 2018/19 season. The competitive pricing of Scottish potatoes last season (2018/19) meant that UK exporters were able to out-compete traditional suppliers to the region. In July-May, UK fresh exports to Poland (14.8Kt) have doubled from average and those to the Czech Republic (5.6Kt) have tripled.
In a typical year, Polish import activity gets into full swing from March onwards, with the majority of potatoes sourced from Germany (c.30%) and France (c.10%). Last season the continental tightness allowed the UK to seize a bigger piece of the pie, making up 20% of total Polish imports so far (July-April).
This year, as a result of the ongoing hot temperatures and drought, production in Poland and the Czech Republic is likely to fall significantly below average again this season. Over 90% of the Czech Republic remains in drought with 23% of the country classified as being in extreme drought, which will have a detrimental effect on yields. Poland also looks to have severe shortfalls in production this season with current estimates of c.6.5Mt (see figure 1), a 1Mt drop from last season and 18% below the five year average.
Germany, Poland’s main supplier of fresh potatoes, has suffered over the past few months due to the heat and lack of rain. The recent rainfall and lower temperatures appear to have done little to help out German growers and the potato crop. Soil moisture levels in Germany remain low and much of lower Saxony, a key growing region, is in severe to extreme drought. This means that Germany is likely to have reduced export potential.
Click here for the full article.
“It's a good time for potatoes”
Last year’s heat wave had disastrous effects on potato harvests throughout Europe, resulting in extremely low yields. With this year’s harvest just around the corner in Sweden, though, the predicted yields are looking good. Anders Eriksson from Swedish potato packing company L.E.V. says: “This year we had a good summer with a nice mix between rain and sunshine. It is still a little early to say for sure, but so far the crop looks good.”
Potato packing by farmsoft for less waste and better potato traceability in potato packing & processing
Potato packing by farmsoft for less waste and better potato traceability in potato packing & processing
The company works with 20 growers all around Sweden who are mostly located between Stockholm and Göteberg. Anders explains: “Most of our growers are in the same area as our company, but we also have some that are in regions further away. This helps minimize risk for us and allows us to work with growers that have specialized in certain varieties.” The company works with locally grown potatoes for most of the year, but in the summer months from June through August they import: “We begin in Malta and Cyprus in June and then we move northward as the summer progresses and import from France, Germany, Denmark. Then, at this time of the year we are back to using the Swedish crop,” says Anders.
The company works closely with Swedish retailer ICA, being the retailer’s main potato supplier. Through ICA’s collaboration with the Baltic retailer Rimi, L.E.V. has also begun supplying its potatoes to the Baltic region. Anders says “The main volumes being sold in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania are unwashed and packed in bags of 25kg. So we provide them with more specialized varieties, like small salad varieties and bags of 900 grams.”
Potato packing by farmsoft for less waste and better potato traceability in potato packing & processing
Potato packing by farmsoft for less waste and better potato traceability in potato packing & processing
The company certainly does not have a shortage of varieties. Just like many European countries, the main distinction made between varieties depends on the purpose for which it is used: firm potatoes for boiling, baking or roasting, and softer, more mealy potatoes that are used for mashing. Nowadays, however, consumers are more aware of the specific varieties being offered and have become interested in the different types. Anders states: “Historically, Swedish consumers have preferred potatoes for mashing, but in the past decade we have seen this change. Today, generally consumers want potatoes that work for everything: mashing, but also boiling, baking, or roasting; they want an all-around potato. The salad variety is also really popular with consumers. These are smaller potatoes that can easily be roasted in the oven. For us, the most popular varieties are the Melody, as an all-around potato, and the Amandine for the salad variety.”
The company is introducing a new variety this fall: La Vie. This variety comes from HZPC and was spotted by L.E.V. two years ago. The company tries to regularly introduce new varieties, and after testing over twenty different kinds they decided that La Vie was good addition to their selection. Anders adds: “There are so many varieties on the market currently that if we want to introduce something new we have to retire an existing variety. This means that if we decide to introduce something new it has to be just as good or better than what we already have. La Vie fits that requirement and our first full harvest of this variety will begin soon.”
Potato packing by farmsoft for less waste and better potato traceability in potato packing & processing
Potato packing by farmsoft for less waste and better potato traceability in potato packing & processing
According to Anders, it is a good time to be in the potato business. “In the past, the popularity of potatoes has gone up and down, but today potatoes are trending. Chefs on television have started mentioning actual variety names, instead of potato type and this has made the consumer more interested in the selection of varieties as well. The potato is even the main ingredient that will be used in the finale of Chef of the Year in Sweden. Usually they choose an ingredient that is really unique or specific, so it is quite special that they have chosen potatoes this year, and this shows the current popularity of the product,” he concludes.
Complete packaging solutions for packing potatoes
Everyone who has ever bought potatoes in a supermarket knows that you can get potato packaging in every shape and size. Small packages, large packages, from pillow bags to doy-style packages and tray packaging - everything is possible. JASA, therefore, has a perfect solution for every packaging question.
Potato packaging in every size
A few years ago the packages containing 5 to 10 kilograms of potatoes were very popular. Now we see a shift towards the packages containing 300 gram to 1.5 kilograms of potatoes. “Nowadays there are more different kinds of potatoes available. Older potatoes varieties are making a comeback”, Piet Pannekeet, founder of JASA, explains. “Because of that, the consumers are eating a larger variety of potatoes and therefore are buying smaller packages.” To meet the demands of the market, JASA is offering complete packaging solutions and packaging lines for all types of potatoes.
“You will see potatoes in a wide range of different packages”, Piet Pannekeet explains. “Some are packed in a plastic bag, while others are packed in a plastic sealed cardboard tray. For years these two ways were the norm to pack potatoes, but now we can replace the plastic packaging with paper: Bag-2-Paper™.”
Complete solutions to pack potatoes
JASA offers complete packaging solutions for unprocessed potatoes, from sorting machines to the outfeed belt. “Depending on the wishes of the customer, we can make a fully automated line.” The cured tubers of variety Kufri Chipsona-4 were subjected to the sprout inhibiting treatment viz., hot water dip treatment (57.5±0.1oC for 20 min) along with control and were packed in nylon mesh bags, MAP (modified atmosphere packaging) and vacuum packaging. The tubers were stored for 5 weeks at room temperature conditions (32±2oC; RH ~90%)and sampled at the 7-day interval. A progressive increase in decay loss and shrivelling of potato tubers was observed during storage. Hot water dip treated tubers showed significantly lower decay loss and shrivelling than untreated tubers. Among various packaging methods, minimum decay loss was observed in net bag packaging while vacuum packaged tubers had significantly higher decay loss.
Through an industrial weigher, the sorted potatoes are weighed in exact portions. After that, the portions are packed in their respective packages. Through the outfeed belt, they are transported to the case packers or baler before they are shipped to the supermarkets and consumers.
Optical sorting machine for potatoes
To supply the best potatoes to the consumers, the potatoes are sorted by size and quality before they enter the packing line. JASA also offers solutions for this situation. Not only does the Newtec Celox machine sort the potatoes by size but it also scans the potatoes for quality. With the help of cameras, the potatoes are then analyzed before they are sorted accordingly. This process is incredibly fast and very accurate.
The effect of seven packaging materials (transparent perforated and non-perforated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bags, black perforated and non-perforated low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bags, nylon gunny sacks, khaki bags and net bags) on post-harvest quality of tubers from three potato cultivars was evaluated. Data were collected on time and percentage of sprouting, weight loss rates and percentage tubers with greening and rotting. Packaging significantly reduced weight loss and rate of tuber greening but increased the rate of sprouting and decay incidences. Non-perforated PE bags were the most effective in reducing weight losses, recording losses of 0.7 to 0.9% after 32 days in storage while unpackaged tubers had weight losses of 11 to 12%. Tuber rotting was highest (60 to 66% of the tubers) in non-perforated PE bags. Greening was faster in non-packaged tubers recording 55 to 100% after 2 weeks in storage and showed high cultivar differences, but did not occur in black bags, whether perforated or non-perforated. Sprouting was complete by week 3 in all tubers packaged in non-perforated HDPE bags irrespective of cultivar. Although the non-perforated HDPE bag packaging prevented weight loss, its positive effect was counteracted by the high incidence of rotting and sprouting. Amongst the different materials evaluated, perforated low-density black PE bags were the best method for ware potato packaging due to low sprouting, reduced weight loss, low rate of tuber greening and reduced rate of tuber decay compared to other packaging materials. The study also indicated that the interaction between cultivars, packaging and storage period also affected shelf life of ware potatoes under ambient tropical conditions.
JASA helps you find the best solution
There are so many possibilities. Therefore, it’s really helpful if someone helps you find the right solution. Not only are there a number of ways to pack potatoes, but there are also a number of methods to keep the potatoes fresh in their packaging. This helps give the potatoes a longer shelf life but also keeps them good after purchase. The longer the potatoes stay fresh, the less it will produce food waste. “JASA can help to come up with the perfect solution for our customers”, Piet Pannekeet explains. “It all depends on whether you are packing processed or unprocessed potatoes. With certain packaging techniques, we can create the most optimal conditions for the products. Together with the customers, we look at the wishes and the possibilities before creating a complete packaging line.”
Multifunctional lines for potatoes
Multifunctionality is an important part of the process for JASA and her customers. “We want to create flexible machines that offer several packaging solutions. We want to make sure that our machines have a very short changeover time. We can also add a bypass to the line. This gives our customers the option to pack the potatoes in both trays and bags at the same time, increasing the packaging capacity per minute. Depending on the chosen options, our lines can process 25-100 packages per minute.”
Sustainable packaging for potatoes
There are a few factors involved when choosing your new packaging solution. The first factor is to create a good work environment. We need to decide which machines need to be included and how we can optimize the complete packaging line. The next thing we will look at is which packages the customer wants to create and how can we make sure that the potatoes will be packed in the right conditions. The flexibility of the machine also plays a part in choosing the right machine. On top of that, sustainable packaging also plays a large role in the choice of the correct packaging solution.
With a focus on less plastic packaging, less environmental pollution, and more sustainable solutions, there is a new kind of pressure on the packaging industry. That’s why JASA created Bag-2-Paper™. This new revolutionary paper packaging solution is for products such as unprocessed potatoes. The potatoes are packed in 100% paper* packages. These paper packages can be recycled with the rest of the papers.
Sustainable tray packaging for potatoes
Are you currently packing potatoes in a plastic sealed cardboard tray to keep the potatoes in place? We have a new sustainable solution for this too! Our new cardboard sleeve is a good alternative for the plastic packaging around the trays. The sleeve keeps the potatoes in place while keeping them visible at the same time. It’s the perfect solution for unprocessed potatoes. This will create a packaging solution that is 100% suitable for recycling.
Looking for a complete solution to pack potatoes? Reach out to our sales team, they are always happy to advise you on the possibilities for you.
France
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General Information
- There is a lot of different packaging materials for potatoes.
These materials include :
net bags
jute bags
film bags
woven bags
paper bags
trays
transport packaging / Big Bags
References:
https://www.nnz.com/potatoes-4.html
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Luis Pacheco
Canada
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General Information
-Potatoes are ready for harvest once the vines have been completely dead for at least seven to 14 days. The temperature of the potato is critical to a successful harvest. Never harvest when pulp or internal temperatures of the tubers are below 7°C or above 18°C.
-Harvesting at low temperatures leads to bruising, while crops harvested at high temperatures are prone to tuber breakdown from bacterial soft rot and pythium. Soil water capacity should be 65 per cent at harvest, as this will permit the soil to be carried over the primary bed of the harvester, cushioning the tubers as they go up the harvester chains.
-Potatoes can be lifted with a one or two-row potato digger and then picked by hand, or they can be harvested with a potato harvester. A potato harvester digs the tubers, conveys them over a series of beds that separates out the soil and places them in a bulk truck. Windrowers are simplified harvesters that travel in front of the main harvester, digging the potatoes and placing them between intact rows. The harvester then digs these rows. Windrowers increase the efficiency and decrease the time needed to finish harvest, but the added handling step results in more damage to the crop.
-If frost has occurred, potatoes should not be dug until the ground has thawed, otherwise the crop will be prone to damage and breakdown in storage.
References:
https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/agriculture-natural-resources-and-industry/agribusiness-farmers-and-ranchers/crops-and-irrigation/horticultural-crops/potatoes
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Rajjun Sahota
India
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[Fresh Potatoes and Chilled Potatoes Table Potatoes]
-Corrugated Fibreboard Box of 10 KG with required number of holes for air ventilation and protective liner for moisture protection
-Jute Bags of 25, 10 mm from the edge and number of stitches per 10 cm to be between 9 & 11
-Polypropylene Leno bags of 25 KG with bottom sewing by chain sewing type and mouth sewing by over lock or chain stitching
References:
http://apeda.gov.in/apedawebsite/six_head_product/Brochure_05_Onion_&_Potatoes.pdf
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Chayan Mukherjee
Tanzania
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General Information
- After harvesting, potatoes are manually packed in lumbesa sack (120kgs). The Tanzania Bureau of Standards has standardised and indicates that 100-kilogram bags should be used for packing
References:
https://allafrica.com/stories/201706080704.html
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/14923124.pdf
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Job Ndiango
Ukraine
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General Information
- The most common packaging in a grid bag with the tie, weigh of 3 kg, 10 kg, 15 kg, 20 kg, 23 kg, 30 kg and 40 kg.
- Less common packaging in LDPE plastic containers, weigh of 2 kg, 8 kg, 10 kg, and 15 kg and wood containers.
- For potato transportation used containers, baskets, crate boxes, polypropylene bags. Transportation of potatoes in bulk is allowed in the period of mass harvesting and sale.
References:
https://agroterem.com.ua/g2180526-setka-fasovachnaya
http://tbncom.com/publ/avtomobilnye_perevozki_road_transport/refrizheratory/vidi_tari_dlja_perevezennja_kartopli_ta_ovochiv/16-1-0-125
http://med-plast.com.ua/ua/produkciya/izdeliya_iz_plastmasy/yashchiki_plastmassovye/yawiki_dlya_kartowki/
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Taras Kostiv
Spain
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General Information
- From collection, potatoes are washed, disinfected and selected according to grades and sizes.
- Depending on their target market (Fresh, manufacture, export), they are allocated in pallets, sacks, or packs.
- For the consumer market it is common to pack potatoes in netted sacks of 2kg, 5kg or 10kg. It is also common to find them in bulk in stores and supermarkets.
- For the export market, it is common to use carton/plastic boxes to pack them. Boxes are then stack up in pallets and labelled. Sacks of up to 20kg-25kg are also used. This are also stacked up in pallets and labelled accordingly.
References:
http://www.patatasgomez.com/procesos/envasado-de-la-patata-pesado-envasado-y-paletizacion/
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Adan Rodriguez
Egypt
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General Information
-In 20 and 25 pp bags with black linen from inside to stop light getting in.
-In 1, 1.25 and 1.5 tons Jumbo bag.