Agricultural bins and crates are open or slatted containers, made of wood or plastic, used to pick, store and move fresh produce from field to packhouse and market. Large bulk bins hold several hundred kilograms of fruit and are handled by forklift, while small crates hold a few kilograms to be carried by hand or stacked on pallets. Wood has been the traditional material, but plastic has taken a growing share because it is lighter and easier to sanitize.
Bins versus crates
The two terms describe different tools in the same chain.
- Bulk bins (also called field bins, harvest bins or apple bins) are pallet-sized boxes, typically with a solid or slatted bottom, built to be lifted by forklift and stacked several high. They hold fruit such as apples, pears, stone fruit and citrus from the orchard to the cold store.
- Crates are small boxes, often 300 × 400 or 400 × 600 mm in footprint, filled in the field or the packhouse for vegetables, soft fruit and produce sold directly in the crate.
- Pallet boxes and pallet collars sit between them: a pallet with a hinged or stackable frame, as described under pallet collars.
A bulk bin is in practice a pallet with walls, and the same logic applies: it needs forklift entry, a stiff base and a footprint that matches trucks, cold-store racking and container loading.
Typical sizes and capacities
Dimensions differ by region and by crop. The figures below were verified from the sources listed, and are examples, not a single world standard.
| Container | Dimensions | Capacity | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic bin, Bolzano area, Italy | 1120 × 1120 × 770 mm (44 × 44 × 30.4 in) | 600–700 liters, about 330 kg (730 lb) apples | Polyethylene |
| Plastic bin, Switzerland | 1000 × 1200 × 765 mm (39.3 × 47.2 × 30.1 in) | 650 liters, about 315 kg (695 lb) apples | Plastic |
| Plastic bin, Washington State (MacroBin 29) | 48 × 48 × 28 in (1219 × 1219 × 711 mm) | Manufacturer designed it for apple harvest | Polyethylene; 63 lb (28.6 kg) |
In North America the bin base is square, around 48 in (1219 mm), instead of the 48 × 40 in rectangle of the standard grocery pallet. Wooden bins in Europe are often built to the pallet formats described in the Euro pallet and 1200 × 1000 mm families, which makes them easy to combine with standard trucks. Small crates follow the modular logic of 600 × 400 mm, which divides evenly into a 1200 × 800 or 1200 × 1000 mm pallet. That module is recommended in unit-load standards such as BS 6884 (1987), which is built on 600 × 400 mm and the ISO 1200 × 1000 mm pallet.
Wood in the field: construction and species
Bins and crates are made from low-cost, light timber, often softwood such as pine or spruce, and in some regions poplar or other fast-growing species. Boards are thin, the base is formed with stringers or blocks, and fasteners are nails or staples. Construction is simple, so bins can be repaired in the packhouse or by a local carpenter; see pallet repair.
Wood has real advantages. It is cheap, stiff, repairable and available everywhere, and it absorbs some humidity, which can reduce condensation on fruit. For small crates, wood or plywood is still widely used for citrus, grapes, tomatoes and other produce where the crate is single-trip and sold with the goods.
The disadvantages are mostly about hygiene and weight, covered in the next section. Wooden bins in rough condition can also bruise fruit because of splinters, nail heads and protruding boards, so inspection at each cycle matters.
Hygiene, plastic and the trade-offs
A University of California extension document comparing bins notes that wooden bins have been the industry standard since 1957, but that wood absorbs moisture and chemicals, offers only about 1.5% ventilation area and can harbor disease organisms. Plastic bins, by comparison, were described as 30–40 lb (14–18 kg) lighter, with 7–11% open floor and side area for airflow, and easier to sanitize. The same source states that wooden bins cannot be recycled and require disposal, which is a simplification: broken wood is commonly chipped for biomass or reused for energy, as covered in pallet wood waste and biomass.
The practical trade-offs are:
- Cost and life: wood costs less to buy; plastic lasts for more cycles and holds value in a pooling system.
- Cooling: more open area allows faster room cooling, which affects fruit quality and storage life.
- Cleaning: smooth plastic can be washed and disinfected; porous wood is difficult to clean fully.
- Repair: wood can be repaired with a hammer; broken plastic usually goes for recycling.
- Weight: a lighter bin lowers transport cost and eases handling.
Packers and retailers that follow food-safety audit schemes often specify washable containers for fresh produce, and some prohibit reused wood in direct contact with the product. The general rules for pallets in food chains are in food safety pallets, and the comparison between materials is in wood vs plastic.
Export and phytosanitary rules
Wooden crates and bins used to ship produce across borders are wood packaging material, so they fall under ISPM 15: treated, debarked, and marked, unless made from processed wood such as plywood or veneer. Thin single-trip crates made from wood less than 6 mm thick are exempt under the standard, which is why many produce boxes use thin veneer or slats. Verify the destination country's rules before shipping, because some importers add conditions.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a standard apple bin?
There is no single global size. In North America, bins are about 48 in (1219 mm) square, and in Europe they are typically built to 1200 × 1000 mm or similar pallet footprints, with capacities of roughly 300–350 kg of apples.
Are wooden crates still used for fruit export?
Yes, particularly single-trip crates for citrus, grapes and other produce, where low cost matters. Reusable plastic crates are increasingly common for high-volume retail supply.
Do wooden fruit crates need ISPM 15 marking?
Solid wood crates thicker than 6 mm do. Crates made entirely from thin wood under 6 mm, or from plywood and other processed panels, are exempt.
Why is plastic easier to keep hygienic?
Its surface is smooth and non-absorbent, so it can be washed and disinfected. Wood is porous and can retain moisture, residues and microorganisms.
Sources
- Bin dimensions, capacities and materials (PDF) — University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
- New MacroBin 29 perfect for apples — FreshPlaza
- BS 6884:1987 Recommendations for plan dimensions of unit loads — British Standards Institution
- Macro Plastics launches new MacroBin for apples — Fruit Growers News