PACK EXPO 2019: Packaging for Perishables
Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods, interviewed packaging experts on the show floor to discuss trends in packaging for produce and other perishables.

Here we have Bill Chastain, senior vice president of Harpak-ULMA.

Branding, value-added and single-unit packaging are the driving forces behind the shift in packaging for produce. Harpak-ULMA discusses how this change impacts the development of new packaging equipment.

As consumer and regulatory pressure put plastic in the spotlight, the next few years looks to be pivotal in the area of food packaging. What are the key drivers in developing packaging and what should cold processors and manufacturers know to prepare for looming legislation and its impact on refrigerated and frozen food packaging. Kellie Alvarado, director of sustainability at Anchor Packaging, joins From the Cold Corner to unpack the latest in sustainable plastic packaging for the cold foods industry.

ERP and MES - Enterprise Resource Planning AND Manufacturing Execution Systems – two pieces of tech that can have a powerful impact on F&B processing and manufacturing. MES helps bridge the gap between the shop floor and enterprise systems, ensuring real-time visibility, control, and optimization of manufacturing processes. Meanwhile, ERP integrates business functions across the organization, streamlining operations from finance to supply chain management. Jim has nearly 30 years specializing in computer systems that provide operational capabilities and analytic tools to drive profit maximization, competitive advantage, and customer satisfaction for F&B manufacturers.  Join us as we unpack how these two systems work together to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and drive growth for cold and frozen food manufacturers.

Founded in 1980, the Refrigerated Foods Association is celebrating 45 years as the coolest association on earth. R&FF met with leaders at the 2025 conference in Orlando to learn more about RFA and how it serves the refrigerated prepared foods segment.

Designing and installing a refrigeration system on a cold storage or frozen food production facility is challenging in and of itself but one that needs to operate efficiently and consistently in Nogales, Arizona, -- one of the hottest ambient climates in the U.S. -- coupled with changing regulations meant a whole lot of hands on deck. On this episode of From the Cold Corner, Jeff Warther, senior key account manager at The Chemours Company and Luis Bustamonte, owner of Bustamonte Refrigeration, discuss the project and its challenges.

As one of the largest foodservice distribution companies in the country, US Foods, Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ 2024 Distributor of the Year, helps 250,000 foodservice clients across the country succeed every day. Gene Carbonara, vice president of ecommerce and digital, at US Foods, joins the podcast to share more about how the distributor is using technology to enhance ecommerce and more.

FOOD ENGINEERING Editors Derrick Teal and Alyse Thompson-Richards and Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Editor Kelley Rodriguez discuss the major trends affecting food manufacturing in 2024 and what they expect to see in 2025. They cover food safety, automation, sustainability, mergers & acquisitions, and more.