Ventilated Bags For Onion Product: An Effective Way to Store, Transport, and Avoid Spoilage

Onions are a universally appealing base product and are in high supply continuously. Though onions are in high demand due to being a basic ingredient, the issue arises in the storage and transportation of onions as they are found to rot, sprout, or go bad. 

Most traditional methods of storage and preservation do not serve the purpose in the current supply chain, especially when cultivating and distributing in bulk. Thus, ventilated bags can be utilized. Ventilated bags are also effective and eco-friendly in that they help enhance the storage and transportation of onions. Consequently, lessening waste and increasing the shelf life of the product.

This guide will delve into how ventilated bags efficiently store and transport onion products. In addition, their advantages and how to determine the most appropriate type for your products.

Overcoming Onion Storage & Transportation Challenges

Onions can easily spoil due to environmental factors and get wasted during handling and shipping. Following are the specific challenges faced in the storage and transportation of onion:

• Moisture Management: Onions are prone to moisture overloading resulting in surface growth, putrefaction, and other forms of damage. Therefore, It is important to maintain dryness to avoid such conditions.
• Ventilation: Onions require a sufficient air supply to prevent the accumulation of excess heat in the storage, which enhances onion sprouting. Storage with a restricted air supply makes temperature changes causing decay.
• Temperature Control: It is advisable to conserve onions in a cool and dry environment, although it becomes challenging to balance this condition during transit. 
• Physical Damage: Onions may get cut and or bruised due to the lack of appropriate packaging materials, thus affecting their quality and selling levels.

These problems underline the importance of unique storage and transport techniques when dealing with onions. 

Ventilated Bags: Definition & Its Purposes

Mesh bags or breathable bags also called ventilated bags, are constructed using strong woven polypropylene material containing several openings that aid aeration. Such bags are made to carry and store agricultural merchandise that need proper ventilation like onions, potatoes, and garlic.

The primary purposes of ventilated bags are:

• Air Circulation: The open weave design provides air circulation around the onions preventing moisture and heat buildup.
• Moisture Evaporation: Such bags help retain the state of the onions by making it impossible for excess water to be retained within the heads avoiding fungal and bacterial infections.
• Temperature Control: Since the ventilated bags created do not allow variations in the temperatures, the quality of the onions is maintained during both storage and transit periods.
• Protection: Physical protection during transit and handling is adhered to through ventilated bags.

Ventilated bags meet these key storage and transportation requirements and thus ensure that onions do not spoil and the quality of the product is not compromised.

How Ventilated Bags Help Prevent Spoilage?

Onion production and marketing are significantly affected by the risk of spoilage. For ventilated bags, several benefits are presented to help overcome the causes of spoilage. Here’s how they work:

Improved Air Circulation

Ventilated bags feature a meshed structure that enables air movement in and out of the bag. This increase in airflow reduces high heat and moisture buildup in the bag, which encourages spoilage. Air circulation reduces high humidity and high temperatures which prevents germination and rotting. Moisture Control

Excess moisture promotes the growth of bacteria and other microbes, which catalyzes the rotting of onions, which is one of the biggest problems in their transportation. The ventilated bags help moisture move out of the onions instead of being absorbed and staying inside. This helps in keeping the onion away from moisture which can prevent the growth of mold. 

Temperature Maintenance

Onions have high sensitivity to any temperature changes, and failure to manage the temperature effectively may result in a faster rate of spoilage. Ventilated bags aid in preserving onions at an appropriate temperature by allowing free passage of air that serves to cool the contents and prevent heating. This is more important when the onions are in transit since the onions will be subjected to changes in the ambient temperature.Top Advantages Of Using Ventilated Bags

There are several benefits to the use of ventilated bags for the storage and transportation of onions:

1. Extended Shelf Life: Ventilated bags increase onion storage time by facilitating the circulation of air, moisture control, and temperature management, thereby minimizing waste and spoilage.
2. Quality Preservation: Onions placed in ventilated bags do not sprout, rot, or get infested with mold, which ensures that quality is maintained when they are sold.
3. Minimized Waste: The strong and air-permeable sack bags prevent mechanical damages and spoilages, respectively, thereby reducing the rate of wastage during the transport of goods.
4. Environmental: The use of ventilated bags is environmentally friendly because the bags are recyclable and refillable. In addition, they aid in minimizing the use of non-biodegradable products, such as disposable plastics for agricultural packaging which enables an environmentally healthier supply chain.

Why Choose Ventilated Bags For Onion Products?

Onion packs with ventilation are preferred when it comes to keeping and carrying onions for quite several reasons:

• Ability To Breathe: The construction of ventilated bags ensures that onions remain in a good state capable of circulating air and in which the risk of spoilage is minimized.
• Moisture Can Not Be Trapped: Ventilated bags fight against mold and decay-creating processes by allowing moisture to escape.
• Versatility: They are available in different ranges and designs, which ensure that they can accommodate any amount of onions and modes of transport.
• Affordability: These bags do help a lot to farmers and distributors who want to minimize wastages without having to procure sophisticated storage units.

Explore the Versatility Of Ventilated Bags

Undoubtedly ventilated bags are ideal for the storage of onions, but they can also be used to store a wide range of other products from the farm. They are used for packing and transporting tubers such as potatoes, and other crops like garlic and shallots. These bags can also be employed in packing certain types of fruits that require enough aeration, and moisture control. 

Ventilated bags are employed in processes where there is a need to restrict the amount of air trapped for example when packaging fired wood and shellfish, and also in bulk storage of dry industrial materials and to prevent moisture condensation.

How To Choose The Right Ventilated Bags For Your Onion Products

Enhanced performance can be achieved by choosing the appropriate auger-ventilated bags for the storage and transport of onions. Below are some of the factors to consider while selecting ventilated bags:

• Size and Capacity: Select an appropriate bag capacity for the amount of onions you want to transport or store. Bigger bags may restrict air supply, while small bags will lead to packing and spoilage of the onions.
• Quality Of Material: Look for high-quality polypropylene and above bags that deflate after packing onions and won’t tear when the load is heavy.
• Ventilation Design: Check that the bags have a sufficient number of ventilation holes or panels to allow proper air circulation. Some accommodation bags have long vent panels, while others have short ones with encountering holes throughout their length.
• UV Protection: Consider the UV protective bags if you intend to store or transport onions in the open air to protect the onions from direct sunlight which tends to spoil most materials very fast.
• Handling Features: The bags should have strong lifting loops or handles to facilitate easy carrying and loading of the contents. 

Conclusion: Increase the Shelf Life of Your Onion Products

Onions can be put to rest in ventilated bags for transporting or storing. These bags offer better circulation, moisture control, and temperature retention to ensure that the onions do not go bad for a longer period. These qualities, coupled with their cost-effectiveness and eco-friendliness, make them ideal for farmers, distributors, and retailers seeking to increase efficiency in their supply chains and minimize product wastage. In cases where onions need to be moved over long distances, or even when they need to be stored for some considerable time, provided ventilated bags will serve the purpose of ensuring that onion products get to the market in the right shape.

Furthermore, Wales Industries is the best FIBC bulk bag manufacturing company in Australia, which is effective in the provision of durable and quality ventilated bags that meet all your agribusiness needs for efficient transportation and storage of onions.