A Comparison of Handling Systems for Fresh Tomatoes from Packing Plant to Retail Store

Labor, equipment, and materials costs were developed for 12 systems of handling, transporting, and delivering fresh tomatoes. The systems included four tomato handling methods (handstacked, palletized, pallet-pool, and slipsheet) from the packing plant to wholesale warehouses, three systems (handstacked, palletized, and mobile carts) for handling tomatoes from wholesaler to retailer, and one system used in the retail store. A synthesized pallet-pool system was the lowest-cost system ($0.6218 per 20-pound carton) for moving tomatoes from packing plant to wholesaler. Pallet delivery was the lowest cost system ($0.2278 per carton) for movement from wholesaler to retailer, and $0.1756 per carton for handling at the retailer level gave the lowest total labor, equipment, and materials cost of $1.0252 per carton. The pallet-pool system is not new, but has never been successfully operated industry-wide. This system is not considered feasible at this time. Therefore, the handstack system, which costs $0.6249 per carton, is recommended for delivery of fresh tomatoes from packing plant to wholesale warehouse. The recommended delivery system from wholesale warehouse to retailer is pallet delivery ($0.2278 per carton). The total system cost, then, would be $1.0283 per carton (packing plant to wholesale warehouse $0.6249, wholesale warehouse to retailer $0.2278, and retail handling $0.1756). Total costs per carton ranged from $1.0252 to $1.1384. Wholesale and retail losses due to damage and decay were not included in the cost calculations. If included, these losses would have increased the costs per carton for each of the 12 systems. Because of reduced handling, some systems offer better protection for the fruit than other systems.