Significant Savings Win Converts to New Flower Packaging

 

Using Convex Plastics’ re~fresh flower liners instead of the traditional vials and floss is saving many packhouse operators a significant amount of time and money

An up to 80 percent reduction in packing time is prompting an increasing number of flower growers to use modified atmosphere plastic liners made by Convex Plastics instead of the traditional vials and floss.

Ellbee Ltd, the New Zealand distributors of the modified atmosphere re~fresh liners, is expecting sales of their Hydrangea liners to more than double this coming season, and for sales to further increase as new liners for several other varieties of flowers are introduced over the coming season. 
Using Convex Plastics’ re~fresh flower liners instead of the traditional vials and floss is saving many packhouse operators a significant amount of time and money 

Ellbee Ltd Director, Derek Lankshear, says that although the main purpose of the re~fresh liners is to lengthen the life of fresh cut flowers, the new packaging also does away with the laborious task of putting vials on the end of each stem.  This has resulted, he says, in significant time and cost savings for many growers and packers.

Most growers already using re~fresh liners say they are looking forward to the re~fresh liner range being expanded as their packing time and associated costs will be further reduced.

For instance, Westbay Waratahs in Katakati successfully used re~fresh liners for all their `tens of thousands’ of Hydrangeas last season and some Viburnum on a trial basis, and believe using liners for other varieties would be a definite advantage.

Andy Wallis of Westbay Waratahs says, “The biggest advantage as a grower is the huge saving in not having to spend time putting little floss packs on the ends of each stem. By using liners last year instead of floss packs we cut our packing time down by 70 or 80 percent.”

Dunedin-based pack house operator Debbie Roberts also credits the re~fresh liners for improving staff morale. She says, “The girls couldn’t stand using the plugs. Using the liners is so much easier and they’ve certainly saved a lot of labour.”

Like many other users of re~fresh liners, Debbie is convinced that using the liners also ensures that the flowers stay fresh.

She says, “We have a great deal of confidence in them. Growers use the liners to send their Hydrangeas to us from as far afield as Queenstown, Gore and Oamaru, and the flowers have been arriving in just perfect condition.  Exporters have also told us that the quality of our flowers has been superb and we’ve even received comments from some of their overseas buyers.  I’m sure it’s all down to the liners.”

The popular combination of cost savings and improved flower quality has also won the re~fresh liners an enthusiastic US distributor. Oregon company Sunset Flowers of New Zealand now ship exclusively using the liners and successfully sell the liners to other US growers. Company director, Ray Gray says, “We believe this method is far superior to all other packaging methods and highly recommend it to all Hydrangea growers."

At present re~fresh liners are only commercially available for Hydrangeas.  However, liners for Viburnum, Peonies, Delphinium, and Helleborus are all currently in the later stages of development and are expected to be released into the market place soon.