Packaging system
Cheap. Tough. Easy to find. Then branded.
Everything below is sold in Accra markets and plastic shops in bulk. Fresh Market’s look comes from stickers, labels, and the bag insert — not from buying fancy packaging.
| Material | Use | Why this | Brand with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear LDPE / HDPE poly bags (small, medium, large — “rubber” bags) |
Yam pieces, plantain, avocado, citrus, pepper, onion, papaya, pineapple | Dirt cheap, tear-resistant when you buy thicker gauge, wet-ok, everywhere | Round bag sticker on the face |
| Thick carrier / “shopping” bags (black, white, or striped — heavy gauge) |
Outer delivery bag for the whole order | Holds weight, survives motorbike / walking delivery, sold by the pack | Seal sticker + A6 bag insert |
| Cardboard egg trays (6 / 12 / 30 nests) |
Eggs — keep in tray, bag the tray if raining | Standard market supply, cushions eggs, reusable look | Egg tray strip sticker on the long edge |
| Clear PET bottles + screw caps (250ml / 500ml / 1L food-safe) |
Honey | Already how honey is sold; durable; replace only the label | Honey label + WhatsApp QR (says Honey — never pure/raw) |
| Clear packing tape | Seal carrier bags; waterproof paper stickers if needed | Hardware / stationery shops; one roll lasts many orders | Stick seal under a strip of tape so it can’t peel off |
| Raffia or nylon twine | Plantain bundles, tied yam, neck tags | Pennies per order; stronger than thin rubber bands for heavy produce | Neck / twist tag punched and tied on |
| Second-hand cartons (optional) | Big Market Run / Family baskets on rainy days | Often free or near-free from shops; crush-resistant | One seal sticker on the flap |
How every order is packed
- Sort wet / dry. Roots and plantain in clear poly. Eggs stay in tray. Honey upright. Soft fruit (avocado, papaya) in their own bag so nothing crushes them.
- Sticker each clear bag with a round Fresh Market sticker — one is enough.
- Egg tray: stick the strip on the long side. Bag the whole tray only if rain or long distance.
- Honey: wipe bottle, apply Fresh Market bottled-honey label. Cap tight.
- Outer carrier bag: all items in, A6 insert on top, seal sticker on the outside, clear tape over the seal.
- Heavy roots: double-bag yam / cocoyam if the poly feels thin. Better a second ₵1 bag than a split pack on the road.
Print tip: Any local print shop can print the sticker PDFs on A4 adhesive paper and trim.
Day-one hack if sticky paper is late: print on plain paper, cut, and cover with clear packing tape on the bag — same brand hit, still cheap.
Do not order custom printed bags until volume pays for them.