By Michelle Aveyard-Barry, eHow Contributor

Produce with delicate skin, such as tomatoes, can be a challenge to ship. Packaging fruits and vegetables so that they are undamaged while being shipped and transported can be challenging. Not only will you have to choose packaging that will protect the contents from being squished or damaged, but, more importantly, you must be able to regulate the temperature and humidity within the package. Temperature plays a crucial role in causing the produce to spoil before its time, so protecting the fruits and vegetables from this is critical. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions
1
Place the fruits or vegetables inside a packaging material that is not prone to being dented or crushed and that will provide a sturdy shell for the produce, as produce containers are often stacked on top of each other. A pallet, pallet bin, wire-bound crate, wooden crate or wooden basket are suitable for packaging produce. Use packaging that provides insulation to regulate the temperature and balance the moisture inside the package such as plastic stretch film or engineered plastic liners, which provide a balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
2
Insert the fruits and vegetables into the container so that they fill the container without wasting space. The produce should not be so compacted together that they are squishing each other, which can result in bruising, however, there should not be adequate room for the produce to tumble around. The fruits and vegetables themselves, when packed correctly, act as a packing material.
3
Weigh the package to ensure it does surpass weight limits. Packages transported by hand should typically not exceed 50 pounds while packages handled by a forklift should not exceed 1,500 pounds. The intended use and distribution of the produce will dictate the size of the container and likewise the weight limit.
4
Seal the package securely with packing tape to prevent it from opening during transport.
5
Check the estimated ship time if mailing the items. Produce cannot be shipped through the post office unless it can reach its destination before the produce spoils. Designate a shipping time that will allow the produce to reach its destination before it spoils.