Fox Solutions has entered into a strategic partnership with JASA, a Netherlands-based leader in weighing and packaging automation, to bring fully integrated packaging and automation solutions to the U.S. produce market. As one of only two authorized U.S. distributors for JASA, Fox Solutions will provide sales, service and parts support for JASA equipment, giving domestic growers and packers direct access to JASA's technology.

The partnership addresses a clear gap in the market. Fox Solutions has long supported fresh produce packers across core commodities including potatoes, citrus and onions. Through the JASA partnership, Fox Solutions can now support full packing lines for expanded markets including leafy greens, fresh-cut fruits, tomatoes, meat and poultry, seafood and tapas — categories that demand equipment built for speed, frequent changeovers and strict hygiene standards. By pairing JASA's engineering with Fox Solutions' materials knowledge, system integration capabilities and domestic service network, the two companies are delivering a solution where equipment and packaging are specified and supported together.

Two Packaging Formats, One Integrated System

Central to the partnership is a direct connection between Fox Packaging's bag formats and JASA's VFFS equipment. Fox Packaging manufactures two formats that can now be produced on JASA machinery: Vertimesh, a VFFS bag with a film strip running through the center, and Vertifilm, a film-and-net VFFS structure that wraps film around a net bag. Both formats are designed to run without laminated films, and JASA equipment supports multiple configurations including gusseted bags and other styles without machine changeover, a meaningful operational advantage for high-volume lines. For growers and packers, this means the bags and the equipment that runs them are sourced, specified and supported by the same family of companies.

VFFS Technology: Proven Globally, Now Available Domestically

Fox Solutions now offers JASA's vertical form fill seal (VFFS) machinery, including the JASA 260 and NXXT models, to new and existing customers across the United States. The NXXT platform is the equipment of choice for leafy greens, tomatoes and other fresh produce categories that require consistent fill weights, gentle product handling and the flexibility to run multiple bag formats on a single machine. JASA VFFS equipment has a strong track record in fresh produce applications worldwide, with proven performance across potatoes, citrus, leafy greens, tomatoes and fresh cut vegetables.

"There's been a gap in the U.S. market for a packaging format that brings together film and net in one integrated solution. Partnering with JASA closes that gap. Our customers now have access to a system that handles multiple configurations, runs without laminated film and delivers a package that performs at retail,” said Aaron Fox, President of Fox Solutions.

Sleever Capabilities: Expanding into Tray and Cup Applications

In addition to its VFFS lineup, JASA manufactures a high-performance sleever designed for trays and cups across a wide range of food categories. The JASA Sleever applies pre-folded, pre-glued sleeves to square, rectangular, oval and round trays, and is built around a cassette-based changeover system that allows operators to switch between tray and sleeve configurations in under five minutes. For operations running multiple SKUs or shifting between product types throughout the day, this is a significant production advantage.

The sleever is built with stainless steel construction and hygienic design, making it the right fit for meat and poultry, seafood and fresh cut fruits, as well as tapas and other prepared food formats in thermoformed trays. The double-lane PGS-2100 model reaches speeds of up to 100 packs per minute (mechanical capacity), and the compact footprint allows for straightforward integration into existing packing lines.

For Fox Solutions customers, the sleever opens the door to a broader set of retail packaging formats including topseal and lid trays, skinpack applications for meat and seafood and fresh cut fruits, all backed by the same domestic sales, service and parts support Fox Solutions provides across its full equipment offering.

Expanding Applications and Sector Reach

The JASA partnership positions Fox Solutions to serve a broader range of packers than ever before. JASA equipment is purpose-built for the demands of high-volume fresh food packing across produce, protein and prepared food categories. Its NXXT vertical bagger platform is engineered around six core performance pillars: cleanability, fast changeovers, operator efficiency, reliability, processing speed and remote connectivity through JASA Connect. For packers running multiple SKUs or switching between product types, the ability to change configurations without a machine changeover is a significant operational advantage.

Fox Solutions can now quote and support full packing lines for leafy greens, fresh cut fruits, tomatoes, meat and poultry, seafood and tapas, in addition to its existing base in potatoes, citrus, onions and other core produce categories. These capabilities also extend to top seal and sleever configurations, rounding out Fox Solutions' ability to meet varying retail specifications across a single, integrated equipment offering.

Together, Fox Solutions and JASA are bridging the gap between packaging materials and automation, providing a more reliable, efficient and future-ready approach to fresh food packing.

"Our partnership with Fox Solutions represents an important step in expanding JASA's presence in the U.S. market. By combining our proven VFFS technology with Fox's deep understanding of customer needs, we are able to deliver flexible, sustainable packaging solutions that meet the evolving demands of fresh produce suppliers and retailers alike," said Joost Somford, President of JASA Packaging Solutions Inc. of America.

Aligned on Sustainability

Both Fox Solutions and JASA share a commitment to more sustainable packaging outcomes. JASA has made plastic reduction and environmental responsibility central to its product development. Fox Solutions has built its materials and service offering around helping customers meet evolving sustainability requirements. Together, the two companies are working toward packaging solutions that meet the demands of retailers and consumers without compromising on performance.

As one of two U.S. distributors, Fox Solutions is also actively supporting existing JASA installations across the country, serving as a domestic resource for parts, service and operational support for packers already running JASA equipment.