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Hirzel doubles down on aseptics

This fourth-generation Ohio marketer of tomato products believes there is a certain segment of U.S. consumers who want a package format other than a can.

Pw 59090 Cartons

Steel cans with seamed-on ends are still plenty important at Hirzel Canning Co. & Farms. But this fourth-generation family-owned firm in Northwood, OH, has also made some pretty bold moves lately in newer packaging formats.

Especially notable was the recent installation of a SIG Combibloc aseptic carton filling machine for diced and chopped tomatoes that handles sizeable tomato particulates. But first came Truly Tomato and Truly Vegetable juices. In some respects these aseptically packaged, shelf-stable juices paved the way for the line of aseptically cartoned diced tomato products, so let’s start with the juices.

These 1-L juices are packaged for Hirzel by Island Aseptics. Why a co-packer? “They had the SIG Combibloc cf2 machine in place, and using a copacker lowered the cost of entry,” says Hirzel President Steve Hirzel. “The cf2 isn’t all that new, but the fact that the juice is not from concentrate is brand new.”

Hirzel says the juice base is aseptically packaged in 300-gal plastic film totes from fresh tomatoes in Hirzel’s Ottawa, OH, plant. Filling equipment from Scholle is used, combined with heat exchangers and sterilization/cooling systems designed pretty much in house by Hirzel.

“It’s single-strength, not-from-concentrate juice that goes to Island Aseptics,” says Hirzel. “No water gets added, and there’s not much re-sterilization needed at Island Aseptics because the product is already sterile when it reaches them. We don’t know of anyone else in tomato juice who is taking this approach.”

The 1-L combifitPremium cartons are topped with the combiSwift screw cap and are coded with a best-by date 18 months from date of production. They sell for $2.59 to $2.99. “These juices make getting the nutritional value of tomatoes much easier for consumers,” says Hirzel. “Dei Fratelli tomatoes are grown on family farms in the fertile Lake Erie Basin and transported only a short distance to preserve the flavor, which is what we mean by ‘Field to Carton.’ We are pleased to offer our not-from-concentrate tomato and vegetable juices in this eco-friendly, convenient carton for our consumers.”

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