Does anyone else in Produce feel the way I do about those stinkin' Wax-coated Cardboard boxes they use to pack Broccoli, Cabbage, Celery and some other heavy produce items in? Those boxes are SO poorly constructed, and when they get wet (and with Broccoli, that ALWAYS happens since they are loaded with ice, and the ice starts melting) they start getting weak, and often they collapse into a big sloppy mess and the cabbage or broccoli spills out on the floor. And the boxes are TOO heavy and very unwieldy. Even holding them with support from the bottom, they often start falling apart when taking them out on the sales floor.
You would think that since it has been nearly 50 years ago that the US sent men who actually walked on the moon, yet these companies can't come up with a simple sturdy box to hold cabbage and broccoli that will stay together without breaking when they get wet??? It's insane. The boxes are not usually 'sealed' as with tape or staples, but just "flapped" together, and the cardboard "flaps" start coming apart with some pressure or dampness.
That is why I love the special occasions when broccoli actually comes in RPCs. It happens very rarely but it seems the product is always higher quality and you don't have to deal with the annoying iced wax boxes.
its even better when the warehouse geniuses put broccoli wet/icy boxes on top of iceberg lettuce cardboard boxes try stacking 8 cases of soaking wet cardboard boxes of iceberg lettuce without cussing so loud the entire store hears.
I also hate when you get lettuce or herbs and everything's frozen or the herbs have turned black! Poorly constructed produce boxes are a thorn in my side and a bane to all employees who have to deal with them!!!
The styrofoam grape boxes and plastic asparagus boxes annoy me, too, because we end up throwing so many of the darn things away!!! You would think, by now, they could come up with a better way!!!