How to Select the Right Label for Your Fresh Food & Produce
Labels are an essential—and often challenging—part of the overall package when it comes to fresh food and produce like apples, tomatoes or cantaloupe. Not only do these labels need to withstand a wide range of temperatures, moisture content and constant handling, but they must also comply with FDA regulations and attract consumer attention with vibrant colors and eye-catching graphics.
A well-designed label will make your fresh food more visually appealing, adding credibility and value to your brand and separating them from competitor offerings. These types of labels can also help to inform consumers about your products, such as where your produce was sourced from, when it was harvested and how it was grown (e.g., conventional, organic, non-GMO).
While there are many different types of label solutions that can be used for fresh food and produce products, below are three of the most commonly used label options:
- Tamper-Evident Labels
Popular across the food and beverage industry, tamper-evident labels are a key solution to providing added security and authentication to products beyond packaging. Also known as security labels, they are used to indicate whether a product has been opened and/or altered from its original condition before making it into the hands of the final end-user.
These labels or seals contain features that make it impossible to remove or peel up the material without damaging it in an obvious way. Common tamper-evident label types include void, frangible film and special tear labels. I.D. Images offers custom, security label solutions that help protect your brand identity and maintain consumer safety.
- PLU Code Labels
Found primarily on fresh produce like fruits and vegetables, price look-up (PLU) code labels are used to uniquely identify bulk produce from a single grower and lot—helping to make inventory control faster, easier and more accurate. Typically, PLU code labels contain four- to five-digit codes that are assigned at random within a given series. These codes help to identify the specifics of individual products, including the produce type, size and growing conditions.
I.D. Images offers a range of PLU code labels that are designed according to your product requirements using FDA-certified adhesives. They are available in eco-friendly stock made from high-quality, biodegradable polyurethane that is recyclable.
- Labels for Clamshell Packaging
If you stroll down the aisles of your local grocery store, you will see fresh food retailers using clamshell packaging for a variety of fresh food applications—from deli meats and cheeses, to fresh produce and ready-made meals. Featuring a hinged lid and closure, clamshell packaging consists of rigid, transparent plastic containers that are thermoformed into various shapes.
From showcasing food while keeping it fresh, to offering a cost-effective and recyclable packaging option that is sealed for consumer safety, there are several advantages to using clamshell packaging to store and display your fresh food products. Some of the most popular label solutions used by fresh food retailers for clamshell packaging include clear film labels, direct thermal labels and all-temperature adhesive labels.
Want to Utilize Our Labels for Your Fresh Food Products?
To learn more about our range of label solutions for fresh food and produce, contact our customer service team at (866) 516-7300 or customerservice@idimages.com.