Packing Houses
A packing house is the engineered post-harvest facility where fresh produce is received, cleaned, sorted, graded, packed and pre-cooled before shipment — the bridge between the field and the export cold chain.
Independent, supplier-neutral guidance. Vendor identities, price bands and shortlists are released only through the RFQ flow.
Role in the project
The packing house determines market grade, shelf-life and export compliance — often the difference between average and premium price.
Typical applications
- Vegetable packing (tomato, pepper, cucumber)
- Berry sorting and clamshell packing
- Citrus and pome fruit lines
- Nursery product handling
Selection criteria
Peak-season tonnes/day and boxes/hour, not annual average.
Optical, weight and size sorting matched to product.
Engineering considerations
Pre-cooling coordinated with cold storage and outbound logistics.
Commercial considerations
Labour cost and market grade justify automation above defined throughput bands.
Procurement considerations
GlobalG.A.P., BRC or destination-specific certification designed in from day one.
Common mistakes
- •Sizing on annual average, not peak-day flow
FAQ
- Do I need pre-cooling?
- For most fruit and berries, yes — shelf-life doubles with correct pre-cooling. Coordinate with ColdMatch Group.
Related supplier categories
Related project types
Related calculators
Related buyer guides
Financing & procurement tools
Scope a packing houses RFQ
Share crop, scale and country. A specialist scopes suppliers, engineering and financing.
Sourced through vetted breeding partners worldwide.