Here comes a boom for produce packaging

Apples, oranges and bananas come with their own natural packaging: skin.

But demand for more convenient options in the produce aisle is driving a need for man-made packaging.

Produce packaging demand is expected to grow 3.3% annually through to 2017, according to a new study by the Cleveland-based Freedonia Group

Plastic packaging will lead all growth, rising 4.8% annually, according to the Produce Packaging study. Reusable plastic containers will rise 3.4% and corrugated boxes by 2.3%

The author of the study, Esther Palevsky, says growth in the ready-to-eat fruit market, driven by consumer demands to eat healthier, will help boost produce packaging over the next four years.

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