Punnet netting is a lightweight, elastic plastic mesh made for packing fruit, vegetables and other fresh produce in plastic or cardboard trays, which the trade calls punnets. The net is stretched over the filled tray, where it holds the contents firmly in place and keeps the pack neat and presentable. It is a simple way to close a tray securely while the produce stays ventilated and in full view.
Punnet netting is part of our fruit and vegetable packaging range, and it is one of the easiest formats to bring into an existing packhouse.
How punnet netting works
Packing with punnet netting takes three simple steps. First the tray is filled with the product, for example berries, cherry tomatoes or mushrooms. Then the elastic mesh is stretched over the tray, where it adapts to the tray’s shape and size. Finally the net is fastened with a clip, which keeps it firmly in place. There is no need for complex equipment, so punnet netting suits a small farm shop as well as a busy packhouse.
Fresh produce that can breathe
Soft fruit and small vegetables are delicate and spoil quickly. Berries, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms all release moisture after harvest, and if that moisture is trapped it soon turns into condensation, and condensation turns into mould. The open structure of punnet netting lets air flow freely over the top of the tray, which helps the produce stay fresh for longer.
Unlike a sealed lid, the net hides nothing. Customers can see the colour and ripeness of every piece, which builds trust and makes the buying decision quicker. A shopper who can see that every strawberry in the tray looks good is far more likely to pick it up.
A secure fit for different tray sizes
Because the mesh is elastic, it stretches to fit trays of different sizes and shapes. One type of netting can cover several pack formats, which keeps your stock simple. The net holds the produce in place when trays are stacked, moved or carried, so fruit does not tip out and the pack still looks tidy when it reaches the shelf.
For plastic and cardboard trays alike
Punnet netting works with both plastic and cardboard trays. You can choose the tray material that suits your customers, your costs or your sustainability goals without changing the way the pack is closed. If you move a product from plastic trays to cardboard ones, the netting and the closing routine stay the same.
Colours that organise the shelf
Punnet netting is available in different colours. Colour helps the produce stand out and can make a display look well organised, for example by giving each variety or product line its own net colour. A well-chosen colour also complements the produce, so red berries or yellow cherry tomatoes look bright and fresh under the net.
Which produce suits punnet netting?
Punnet netting is used for produce that is sold in small trays, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, small peppers and similar fresh products. Any product that sits in a tray and needs to stay in place, stay visible and get some air is a good candidate. If your produce is sold loose rather than in trays, our bags with printed bands or the garlic and onion packaging net may be a better match.
Closing the pack
The net is held in place with a clip that is quick to apply and holds firmly through transport and display. Our clips are made from clipband, a metal binding tape that works by hand as well as on automated packing lines, so the same closure can grow with your volumes.