The seasons throw a lot more at your packaging plans than you might expect, from soaring temps to shifting crop volumes. One minute you’re drowning in crates of strawberries, the next you’re bracing for pumpkins and potatoes.
If you’re still packing like it’s spring all year long, you’re going to have some soggy, squashed surprises on your hands. Here’s how seasonality affects your produce packaging needs and what you can do to stay ahead of it.
Peak Season Means Peak Pressure
When harvests ramp up in late spring and summer, so does everything else. Orders increase, turnaround times shorten, and packaging suddenly needs to do double duty: protect the produce and keep pace with demand.
That’s where a packaging bags company comes in. The right partner can help you scale fast with bulk materials, breathable packaging, and backup stock when your berry crop explodes overnight. Just don’t wait until the first truckload to start thinking about it.
Heat, Humidity, and Shelf Life
If summer had a warning label, it’d say, “Danger—may cause lettuce to melt.” High temperatures and sticky air can wreak havoc on tender greens, soft fruits, and any produce that wasn’t built for a sauna.
During June through September, you’ll want materials that help with airflow, like mesh bags or vented cartons. Moisture-resistant liners or poly-wrapped boxes can also prevent soggy surprises during long-haul deliveries. A little breathable packaging goes a long way when it’s 92 degrees in the back of a truck.
Bulky Fall Crops Need Support
Once the air chills and harvest shifts to pumpkins, squash, and potatoes, your packaging needs change again. These items are heavier, rougher, and often stored for longer stretches in cold facilities.
That means it’s time for burlap sacks, sturdy paper bags, and reinforced crates that won’t cave in under pressure. And if your root vegetables are heading into cold storage for six weeks, make sure the pallet wrap and stack design can handle the wait.
Branding That Matches the Season
Nobody wants to sell Halloween pumpkins in generic packaging. Seasonal crops often go hand in hand with seasonal marketing—think limited runs of citrus in December, Easter asparagus, or summer sweet corn.
Short-run, customizable packaging lets you lean into that without overcommitting. Whether it’s a festive printed label or a branded box, matching your packaging to the calendar can help your produce stand out in crowded bins.
One Bad Week Can Cost You
It only takes one missed order, one melted melon, or one burst bag of onions to remind you that seasonality affects your produce packaging needs. Planning just a couple of months ahead can help you avoid costly surprises and last-minute scrambles.
When you’re ready to look for flexible packaging options that can roll with the seasons, check out Globe Bag Company. We offer dependable solutions for agriculture and beyond, from the early spring greens to winter’s heartiest roots.
No matter the season, Globe Bag Company is proud to support growers and distributors with packaging that works just as hard as they do.