Securing fruit on pallets

• Securing individual pallets will depend on the type of box used.
• Whichever type of box is used, careful alignment is paramount. Boxes overlapping the pallet, however slight this may be, or not tight to one another, will result in damage to the product and/or packaging at the destination. Even an untidy appearance will impact on the saleability of the product.
• Cardboard RDT’s require corner boards and strapping. A minimum of 3 straps should be used at the top, middle and bottom of the pallet.
• It is important to maintain this format. If the bottom strap is too far up, it will result in the bottom boxes bowing and compressing. This will be exacerbated by damp air conditions.
• Corner boards may be used as a ‘belt and braces’ approach to secure plastic RDT’s. Generally they will be secured adequately by 2-3 plastic straps. Standard practice would be for the top strap to be on the penultimate layer and the lower strap on the 4th layer from the bottom.
• All plastic straps should be tight. This can only be achieved effectively with a strap tightener.
• Where pallets with fruit exposed (cardboard RDTs) are intended for the wholesale market, best practice should include the use of pallet covers. This will reduce the potential for soiling and in particular the risk of birds attacking the exposed fruit.
• Where fruit is intended for a multiple outlet and is conveyed through a closed system the use of pallet covers may not be necessary. This implies that fruit is loaded directly from the despatch store onto a lorry through closed system (docking bay) and unloaded again at a docking bay.
• If pallets with fruit exposed are not transferred by closed system best practice should include pallet covers. The cost of pallet covers is approximately 75p each.