We are Thankful for Containers!

The first Thanksgiving was in November of 1621, a date now celebrated with stuffed turkeys, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pies. But what food was really served at this first feast nearly 200 years ago? Historians speculate that there was fowl (wild turkey, geese, or ducks), as well as venison. They also conceivably ate their harvested fruits vegetables, enjoying spinach, onions, carrots, blueberries, and tart cranberries. They were enjoying their harvest before the cold set in, when they would be limited to the rations set aside for the winter months. These days, we can be grateful for modern food storage, which gives us the opportunity to enjoy the harvest all year long.

Short-Term Food Storage Containers

Some foods have only a short shelf life, even when properly packaged. Sour cream, yogurt, guacamole, dip¦ basically all of the delicious foods in life. Maybe there's an inverse relationship between the tastiness of food and its shelf life: the yummier it is, the shorter it lasts? Or maybe that's just because the best-tasting foods get eaten fastest. That's possibly the real reason.

• Plastic Tubs: You often see these in the dairy section of the grocery store. They commonly hold cottage cheese, yogurt, butter spreads, and even ice cream. See? Delicious foods! Those poor early pilgrims didn't get to enjoy ice cream all year long like we do (though that probably had less to do with the container and more to do with the lack of refrigeration).

Long-Term Food Storage Containers

There are many containers and closures that will preserve your food for months or longer. Here are just a few:

• Pails and Drums: Plastic pails are perfect for storing large quantities of dry food. Drums work great for long-term water storage.
• Desiccant Pouches: If you are storing dry food, such as wheat or rice, you can use desiccant pouches to prolong the shelf life of your food. They are small pouches filled with a silica gel called desiccant. Desiccant removes excess humidity or moisture from packaged goods. These little packets can absorb up to 40% of their weight in moisture.
• Mason Jars: Home canning is a great way to preserve your harvest. For more information on Mason jars and canning, check out this blog post about the history of canning. You will find resources regarding canning safety, pasteurization, pickling, our Home Canning Guide, and more.

At this time of Thanksgiving, we have the opportunity to reflect on all that we are grateful for. At Container and Packaging, we are thankful for the opportunity to work with you, our customers. We want to help you have a positive experience, and want to help you find the perfect containers and closures for your products. If you can't find what you need on our website, please contact us, and we will help you find what you need. We are happy to help you create custom projects, design labels, print on your containers, and more. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving from all of us at Container and Packaging!