All State Packers has been in the business of supplying top quality pears, cherries, and asparagus for many years as an innovator and leader in the produce industry.  All State is always looking for ways to improve their operation and supply chain to improve customer satisfaction.

Going into this pear season, All State was concerned about the many shortcomings of RPC’s and their related expenses.  After learning about International Paper’s new Octalite® display ready carton, All State successfully trialed the Octalite carton and was very pleased with its performance.  “By switching to the Octalite carton, many issues we were having related to the packing of our product in RPCs were solved, it has been a great partnership”, Patrick Archibeque, COO All State Packers.   Some of the issues the Octalite design solved included supply reliability, safety concerns because of the added weight of the RPCs, and process related issues in their plant.

International Paper is well-positioned to help growers improve product handling and packing efficiencies.  “With our network of over 130 plants in the United States, we are in a great position to get the product to the customer where and when they need it”, Pat Pochiro, Marketing Manager International Paper.  Because the Octalite carton is shallower and lighter than RPCs, the freight cost per pound of fruit is about 6% less.  This translates to more product per truck, less trucks on the road and less emissions to ship the same amount of fruit.   Other benefits of the switch to International Paper’s Octalite carton include the carton’s 100% renewable fiber is certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative®.   In addition the carton is  recyclable meaning the cartons do not have to be sent to the landfill and the raw material can be reused in the process of making more cartons.

Octalite is a new display ready carton designed for the specific challenges of produce industry. The patented eight-sided structure enhances its performance through the supply chain and provides a distinctive look in the market.  “We are always looking for innovative ways to improve on our packaging.  When our company trialed the Octalite  carton this season  it exceeded our expectations and solved some concerns we had with the use of RPC’s”, said Patrick Archibeque.

This carton along with other innovations from International Paper such as the One Touch® display ready carton and ClimaSeries® wax alternatives will be on display this year at the PMA in Anaheim.  International Paper can be found at booth #3424.