Author: Le Van Thang, Director of ICD Vietnam – 15 years supplying produce and cold-chain crates.
Agricultural produce crates are vented, stackable food-grade crates for harvesting, transporting and cold-storing fruit, vegetables and farm goods from field to packhouse. ICD moulds them in food-grade PP and HDPE with mesh or louvre walls so field heat escapes and water drains. They stack-nest to save space empty and stack straight when loaded. For sealed transit use lidded crates; for non-vented goods use solid bins. See all types on the plastic crates page.
Choose produce crates when:
- Harvest and field collection: light, rinsable and tough enough for repeated field trips.
- Cold chain and ripening: vents release field heat and let air move around the produce.
- Food-grade traceability: washable FDA material that meets buyer hygiene requirements.
1. Produce crate characteristics
| Feature | Produce crate |
|---|---|
| Walls | Vented / louvre – releases heat, drains |
| Material | Food-grade PP / HDPE, washable |
| Stacking | Stack-nest empty, straight-stack loaded |
| Temperature | HDPE to -40C for cold storage |
Sizes to suit harvest and pallet layout – contact us with the crop and load.
2. Field heat – why venting saves the harvest
Just-picked produce carries field heat and respires, giving off warmth and moisture. Pack it into a solid box and that heat and humidity stay trapped: the cold chain works harder, condensation forms, and the bottom layers soften and rot first. A vented produce crate lets field heat escape and air move through the stack, so a pre-cooler or chiller pulls temperature down evenly and fast – the single biggest factor in shelf life after picking.
The same vents drain rinse water during washing and grading, so crates dry quickly and meet hygiene checks. Practical tips: do not over-fill above the stacking lip, or the crate above crushes the top layer; and stack-nest empties on the return trip to cut transport volume. For long sealed transport where dust or pilferage is a risk, switch to a lidded crate; the trade-off is less airflow.
3. Frequently asked questions
1. Why vented crates for produce?
Vents release field heat and let air circulate, so produce cools evenly and lasts longer; they also drain wash water.
2. Are they food-grade?
Yes – food-grade PP and HDPE, washable and accepted for fresh produce handling.
3. Do they work in cold storage?
HDPE versions hold toughness to -40C; airflow aids even cooling.
4. Do empties save space?
Yes – stack-nest designs collapse empties to cut return-transport volume.
4. Related plastic crate pages
| All Plastic Crates & Bins | Mesh Plastic Crates | Growing Vegetables in Crates |
5. Contact and produce crate quotes
ICD Vietnam Industrial Manufacturing Co., Ltd
Northern Vietnam: Floor 3, Thang Long A1 Building, Thon Bau, Thien Loc, Hanoi – 0983 797 186 / 090 345 9186 / 090 5859 186
Southern Vietnam: 551/212 Le Van Khuong, Tan Thoi Hiep, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City – 098 6784 186
Email: sales@icdvietnam.com.vn
Zalo: Chat on Zalo
VAT invoice – In stock – Nationwide delivery 24-48h – 2-year manufacturer warranty
