Flexible packaging reigns (sidebar)

The container for Torengos Tortilla Chips is extrusion blow-molded of HDPE by Consolidated Container (Atlanta, GA). Graphics are reverse-printed on a stretch-sleeve film label from MRI (Newtown, PA). The container is topped with a thermoformed overcap from Ivex (Wheaton, IL) and

lidstock from Spiralkote, a div. of Fleming Packaging (Orlando, FL).

Kraft,

Gold Award Food Category

The new reclosable pouch for Kraft cheese is made by Pechiney Plastic Packaging (Chicago, IL) with a slider zipper from Minigrip/Zip-Pack. A f/f/s machine from Pacmac (Fayetteville, AR) applies the slider to the pouch during pouch making. The pouch is constructed of PE/LDPE/EVOH.

Sargento,

Gold Award Food Category

Sargento Cheese packs its shredded cheese in a gas-flushed pouch using a Curwood (Oshkosh, WI) Integra Score® opening feature equipped with a sliding zipper. The film structure is multilayer using EVOH and LLDPE along with other proprietary technology and processes.

Eldorado Farms,

Gold Award Food Category

Packed in a 2-mil LDPE bag from Pliant (Schaumburg, IL), Eldorado Farms’ Market Prize Peeled Carrots enjoy a three- to four-week refrigerated shelf life. Packs utilize Pliant’s Relliant Series 200 slider zipper for reclosability.

Biodegradable Packaging,

Silver Award Food Category

From EarthShell (Santa Barbara, CA) comes biodegradable packaging for clamshells and sandwich wraps for foodservice institutions. The patented technology allows the combination of ingredients such as limestone starch, and other biodegradable materials for packaging that will biodegrade when exposed to moisture in nature and can be composted in a commercial facility or the backyard.