Monte Package Company Highlights Greencoat® in Produce News

Monte Package Offers Something Old and Something New

by Tad Thompson | June 04, 2014

Sourced from: http://www.theproducenews.com/news-dep-menu/test-featured/13188-monte-package-offers-something-old-and-something-new

RIVERSIDE, MI — Four generations later, Monte Package Co. has a revitalized business in selling veneer baskets like those on display in the firm’s Riverside packaging museum.

Sam Monte, director of operations for the firm, said his great-grandparents, Anthony and Rose Monte, launched the business in 1925 by selling veneer baskets to southwest Michigan’s countless fruit and vegetable growers.

Monte Package now offers a full-service produce packaging line, including the latest technology. In the Monte Package board room, Sam Monte, the firm’s director of operations, and Mary Morphey, the firm’s marketing intern, hold the very popular grab-n-go display bags and show samples of ‘Greencoat’ brand corrugated boxes that replaced waxed boxes. But still, proving that life moves in cycles, the interest in locally grown and traditional farming has re-invigorated the demand for baskets resembling those commonly used 90 years ago.

The designs of some baskets — like those used by some Michigan grape growers — are virtually unchanged in 90 years. Otherwise, consumers want to buy produce that “looks farm-fresh on the shelves,” said Monte. “They like the look that it was picked yesterday.” Much of the packaging “has new-school features and we try to make it look like baskets of the 1920s.”

At the same time, Monte Package is offering a wide variety of permutations on the grab-n-go shelf-display, clear, zipper-closure display bag, which is perforated to allow produce to breathe.

“It’s something safe, protected and ventilated for moisture control,” said Monte.

Perforations can be customized to maximize shelf life of particular items. “People love them on shelves,” he added. “The industry universally is using them, from growers to packers to wholesalers and mom-and-pop stores or for farm markets.” Major national retailers, of course, are also using these bags. sponsor hope

Two years ago, Monte started offering the “Greencoat” brand of packaging to replace waxed corrugated boxes. Monte said these water-resistant boxes are 100 percent recyclable and repulpable. They are strong for field or shed packing, eliminate waxed-box disposal fees and promote environmental and sustainability efforts.

The company’s website offers hundreds of items related to produce packaging and merchandising.

Sam Monte’s grandparents, Salvatore (Sam) and Connie Monte, took over the business about 1960. Sam Monte’s father, Tony Monte, took over the business 30 years ago and expanded to corrugated packaging. Tony’s brother, John Monte, moved to Florida when the firm opened two distribution centers there.

Sam and Tony Monte are both graduates of the University of Miami-Ohio. They have extended their company’s reach to the Midwest, including Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.

The firm also has customers in distant points such as New Jersey, Florida and Texas. It is developing the California market as well.

About Interstate Container

Interstate Container, a division of Interstate Resources, produces award-winning sustainable corrugated packaging solutions for food processing industries; retail and shelf ready packaging; counter, pallet and POP displays; shipping and transport boxes, custom dunnage and packing materials; and corrugated boards and sheets.

Interstate Container’s manufacturing plants in Columbia, SC and Cambridge, MD produce 100% of the pioneering Greencoat® corrugated packaging in-house without sourcing from third parties. FBA-certified Greencoat® wax-free corrugated boxes are 100% recyclable, repulpable, and compostable. Interstate Container’s sustainable packaging solution can withstand shifts from hot to cold, and offers the same strength as wax curtain coated cartons without the carbon footprint.

Interstate Container also produces corrugated retail ready packaging, point-of-purchase (POP) displays, protective packaging and industrial packaging in Lowell and Westminster, MA; Brunswick, NJ; and Reading, PA with sister companies in Asheboro and Greensboro, NC and Greeneville, TN.

Interstate Container is a member of Interstate Resources Inc., a member of INDEVCO Group.