From Field to Shelf: How Bale-Arm Trays Support the Fresh Produce Supply Chain

Fresh produce logistics presents a unique set of challenges. Whether you’re moving apples, tomatoes, or leafy greens, you need packaging that keeps goods protected, fresh, and easy to handle at every stage. Bale-arm trays offer a reliable, hygienic and cost-effective solution that supports the entire journey: from farm to packhouse, depot to supermarket shelf.

Designed for Produce, Built for Efficiency.

Fresh produce requires careful handling. Bale-arm trays provide the ideal balance of ventilation, protection and stacking capability. Trays with perforated sides and bases allow air to circulate around fruit and vegetables, maintaining temperature consistency and helping to prevent spoilage during transport or cold storage.

At the same time, their rigid construction prevents the bruising or crushing of delicate items, ensuring produce arrives at its destination in peak condition.

Optimised for Every Stage of the Supply Chain.

Bale-arm trays are commonly used at every point in the produce journey:

• At harvest: They are filled in the field with crops and stacked for transport
• At packing facilities: They are used for grading, weighing, and preparing produce
• In transport: They are loaded onto pallets or roll cages for distribution
• At retail facilities: They are sometimes used for direct shelf display or stock replenishment

Their stack-nest functionality also helps to optimise return journeys, with nested empty trays taking up significantly less space. This saves fuel, lowers emissions and reduces handling time.

Traceability, Tracking, and Organisation.

In fresh produce operations, traceability is vital. Bale-arm trays can be equipped with:

• Barcode or RFID labels for digital tracking
• Colour coding by crop type, grower, or delivery route
• Branding or custom inserts for internal use

This level of customisation improves stock control, aids quality assurance and simplifies inventory management, especially in larger multi-site operations.

Reusable, Sustainable and Cost-Effective.

Compared to single-use crates or cardboard packaging, bale-arm trays are the more sustainable choice. They’re made to last, easy to clean, and designed for repeated use across multiple seasons. Over time, this results in significant cost savings and reduces your business’s packaging waste footprint.

At the end of their lifespan, most bale-arm trays can be fully recycled, supporting closed-loop sustainability goals and helping businesses meet environmental targets.

RECO Handling is proud to support growers, packers and retailers with bale-arm trays designed specifically for fresh produce logistics. Whether you’re harvesting, distributing, or merchandising fruit and veg, we can help you find the right solution. Get in touch for a consultation or browse our bale-arm range online.

Unit 1a & 1b Hammond Avenue
Whitehill Industrial Estate
Stockport
SK4 1PQ
0161 429 7536
sales@reco-group.com