A proper packaging of food is the main condition that ensure the high quality of produce and reduction of loss risk in goods turnover. Packaging of fresh fruit and vegetables with regard to its perishable and damage sensitive nature should be chosen very carefully in accordance to the EU trade quality standards as well as international and national regulations in the field of fresh fruit and vegetables packaging including receiver’s requirements. Growing competitiveness of imported horticultural goods as well as higher consumers’ quality requirements incline national fresh fruit and vegetables suppliers to improve their packaging techniques and goods presentation. Making the packaging system improved is a main factor in fresh fruit and vegetables turnover in Poland.

Last years, the situation in Polish horticultural market has been changed. The total costs of fruit and vegetables production have increased. Furthermore, the seasonal workers shortage for the fruit picking has increased and become a major issue limiting production of some labour intensive type of fruit such as strawberries and raspberries.

Following the integration of Poland with EU and abolition of custom restrictions on horticultural products exported to foreign as well as very attractive European markets, the export of fresh fruit and vegetables has decreased. Fresh fruit and vegetables wholesale and consumption on domestic market have declined slowly but constantly. The consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables in our country in the year 2002 was about 37 kg/M in accordance to GUS survey but in 2005 it has decreased about 7% that is to 34 kg/M.

In 2006, even despite the high crops, the fresh fruit consumption has decreased to 11% that is about 31% in comparison with the year 2005 and 17 % in comparison with the year 2002.

Import of fresh fruit and vegetables, its wholesale and consumption have increased.
Compared with national produce, the imported fresh fruit and vegetables are not cheaper or more tasty but they are sorted and available in an attractive packaging. Competitors on the European market of fresh fruits and vegetables still improve their packaging systems. The aim of packaging available on modern market is “to sell” the goods and that is why even the colour of packaging must fit to the colour and type of fruit (it is based on a special survey). Usually, consumer in hypermarket takes a decision about buying fresh fruit and vegetables more often influenced by its packaging rather than by the taste of its contents.

Preparing and selling of fresh fruit and vegetables on the demanding market faces some difficulties. Market became more fragmented and diversified and first of all needs modern and effective organization. At a result the producers and receivers of horticultural products faced a very important tasks to fulfill. Those include: building the modern market leading to improve the product quality and its packaging in accordance with the specified requirements as well as development of infrastructure related to packaging, logistics, storage and finally wholesale.

Presently, the fresh fruit and vegetables EU trade regulations are common which means that they are the same in all EU countries. The Common Agricultural Policy of “Old” EU -12 countries and then EU – 15 countries, financed by Brussels budget and including organization and technical equipment of horticultural market, makes these countries more competitive than Poland and other countries that joined the EU after 2004. Over a long period of time, starting at early 70thies of the previous century, these countries were improving their organization of the horticultural market. With technical and financial assistance from the EU, their agricultural policy ensured the future development of heritage market. Our delays in this field are very big and we must catch them up.

Presently, in the EU there is c.a. 1400 fresh fruit and vegetables producer’s organizations. Total share of producer’s organization in the wholesale of the EU market is about 40% but in some countries such as Belgium or Holland, growers associated in groups and producer’s organizations are selling over 90% of their products. In comparison, in Poland only about 5 % of fresh fruit and vegetables wholesale has been supplied by groups and producer’s organizations registered in accordance to the EU requirements. All marketing groups of fresh fruit and vegetables producers, are not able to fulfill the requirements of EU concerning the market organizations. However, in order to receive a full EU budget support, they make about 21% of fruit and vegetables turnover through the wholesale. There is a need in Poland for numerous and strong wholesale groups, that will take over 45-55% of market turnover and ensure efficient packaging management.

There is a specific role of packaging in products turnover, not only in horticulture, which dictates on a sales volumes. Therefore the decision on packaging selection is equal to achieving high quality output. The role of packaging for horticultural products seems to be still underestimated. The properly presented product, whose packaging is an integrated part, creates demand, replaces a sales person, draws attention. If it does not remind a producer or distributor – is hindering a sale.

Packaging of fresh fruit and vegetables is essential in the whole distribution cycle, starting from producer to the final user, consumer. The use of improper packaging may cause eg. mechanical damages or products freshness loss. During last two years the estimated value loss on Polish fresh fruit and vegetables market reached nearly 1 bln PLN per annum. Due to improper packaging, even some high quality crops is being sold on a less attractive Central and East Europe markets with significantly lower prices. This situation requires urgent changes – by enabling an access to packaging, which meets domestic and international requirements and by removing fruit and vegetables export barriers. This will simplify the coordination of works between packaging producers and users, eg. a planter and wholesale receiver, distributor, trade net or exporter. It will also require to ensure information flow and exchange between potential partners, selection and purchase of right packaging. It is also necessary to create and develop an IT and organization system, that will support users in selecting right packaging for fresh fruit and vegetables in a form of full pallet loads, directly from local small and medium size growers or group producers.

The packaging selection support internet system – “e-hortipak-cobro.eu”.

During 2007 – 2011 COBRO has committed to implement a project No. PL-0015, called “Packaging as a stimulus for economic growth and environment protection on the regional scale”, supported with funds from Norwegian Financial Mechanism, whose idea is to offer a real help in introducing modern packaging systems for fresh fruit and vegetables in Poland. The basic objective of this project is to support the development of Polish horticulture in order to increase the export of fresh fruit and vegetables and decrease the number of product losses. The addressed system users are Polish producers as well as local and international products receivers. The project goal is to set up and run an internet website, as a support for planters, distributors, including exporters of fruit and vegetables. The website will provide support specifically for:

The website will let everyone to break the export barrier of Polish fruit and vegetables. It will not only enable the selection of required packaging, but also improve the organizational and logistical side in the weakness links, eg. establishing relationships between planters, packaging producers, and finally receivers of fresh fruit and vegetables.

The above mentioned project will include:

It is expected, that execution of the project, in the regions covered by the packaging selection support internet system, will lead to:

1. Quality improvements of country fresh fruit and vegetables, increase of: competitiveness of these products on European markets, demand, market turnover and production profitability,

2. Decrease of the trade risk in the fruit and vegetables turnover due to proper packaging selection

3. Implement packaging selection support system, especially through:

4. Sharing advisory (including reports) on what products in what packaging, as well as what are the packaging regulations in the receivers country

5. Sharing the database between users (potential business partners) and stimulate/develop co-operation, eg. packaging users with packaging suppliers, etc.

6. Improving packaging market availability, mainly regarding fruit and vegetables producers, being the first users of packaging in the distribution chain

7. Increase the demand for packaging, which meet country and international market turnover standards.

8. Increase the employment as a result of economic development in the horticulture and packaging branch.

9. Improving the economic situation in the regions and sub-regions, with the mass scale horticulture production.

10. Increase the economic and ecological effectiveness of the horticulture areas.

11. Rationalize the use of natural resources (horticultural ecosystems) and improvement of natural environment.

Recapitulating: the internet database will ensure the user to get necessary information on the right selection of packaging for mass scale turnover, both, in the country and abroad. It will offer the packaging selection criteria and rules, types, information about packaging validity, offers and contacts to the producers and potential system users. Depending on the business model and types of the activities and requirements, the system user will find out the sales or purchase offers, of fruit and vegetables.

Considering the effects in the regional and local scale (district, gmina), it is expected that the increase of interest within small and medium size planters, organizing the groups of producers and other efficient forms of production and modern trade of fruit and vegetables turnover will take place. Their business activity, supported with an integrated packaging selection system will meet the mass scale turnover requirements with higher efficiency and make their capitals stronger, enabling them to develop their business. As a result, the economic growth of the highly concentrated horticulture production regions should be noticeable.

The growth of horticulture production will pull the increase of fresh fruit and vegetables supply, for domestic and export needs. The demand for modern, ecological, corrugated cardboard packaging will increase. The proper packaging of fresh fruit and vegetables is essential in order to decrease product losses, which in turn brings rational use of natural resources, and thanks to improvement of horticulture this should lead to limitation of natural environment pollution.

	Considering the improvements in the packaging technologies, it is necessary to withdraw the wooden boxes and chip baskets from the current distribution cycle. There should be new packaging materials introduced, which will be lighter, practical, showy, made of wood derivatives, such as corrugated or plain fibreboards or plastics.

The fruit and vegetables packed in such crates look very attractive and stay fresh much longer. It is recommended to use different types of crates for different products eg. berry size fruits, tomato size, top leaves, cauliflowers, etc.

	Regarding the retail packaging preferred by consumers, the various color boxes containing 0,25 to 1,0 kg and made of paper-pulp or plastic should be popularized.

The packaging and materials producers face challenges to make their products more competitive to respond to changing horticultural market requirements.

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