Plastic trays for tomatoes

Tomatoes are a special case among products packed in trays, because they keep actively ripening inside the box and give off ethylene. They need protection from knocks and rubbing, but above all they need air to circulate. A tray that is too enclosed speeds up the ripening of the whole tray and shortens shelf life just when it matters most, on the final stretch to the point of sale.

That is why for tomatoes we look for designs with generous ventilation channels between cavities. Each piece is held in its hollow without touching the one next to it, and air can move through the closed box, which reduces condensation and the spots where rot starts at the base of the fruit.

In plastic there are two options. Polypropylene (PP) resists moisture, does not deform and can be washed and reused, and it is also the usual material for other premium shelf vegetables, such as peppers. rPET, or recycled PET, gives stiffness at low thickness and a more polished presentation, in clear or black, and it is the option when the specification calls for recycled material.

As an indicative reference, tomatoes run in calibres from 50 to 80 mm depending on the variety (salad, plum or vine), with usual configurations of 20 to 30 cavities in a 60x40 box. In the 40x30 and 30x50 formats, rPET is used with calibres from 50 to 70 mm. What counts is the actual calibre of your production, which is worth measuring on the current season.

From Fraga (Huesca), with a team that has more than 30 years in the sector, we advise you on material, format and calibre, and we send you a physical sample to test with your tomatoes before you order. The available references, with their thickness and number of cavities, are confirmed by our sales team.