Fruit leather PACKAGING DESIGN
for Marches Publics de Montreal
The Société des Marchés Publics de Montréal is a social enterprise dedicated to improving access to fresh produce by connecting Montrealers with local producers, retailers and artisans through public markets.
Since 1993, they've managed various markets under the mandate of the City of Montreal. Governed by a mixed board of directors comprising merchants and residents, they operate as a non-profit organization with over 200 members who sell at these markets.
Similar to the Berry Seed Packaging Design project, the goal here is to create a line of products for the Marchés Publics de Montréal—this time focusing on fruit leather. However, the fruits used don’t have to be sourced from Quebec or Canada.
This product is designed for young people who are not particularly fond of eating fresh fruit but are open to consuming it in alternative formats, such as in pastries, smoothies, or as snacks. While they may avoid whole fruits for various reasons, they are still looking to make healthier choices. This is where fruit leather offers a solution — essentially making fruit more convenient. No more washing, cutting, or dealing with sticky messes, and no need to worry about carrying utensils.
%201.png)
.png)
%201.png)
%201.png)
%201.png)
.png)
.png)
Fruit leather is a dried fruit snack made by pureeing fresh fruit and spreading it into a thin, even layer, which is then dried until it develops a chewy, leathery texture. Depending on the natural sweetness of the fruit, a small amount of sweetener like honey or sugar may be added. The puree is dried at low temperatures, either in a food dehydrator or oven, for several hours. Once dried, the fruit sheet is peeled off and cut into strips or rolled up for easy, on-the-go snacking.
Because it’s made from whole fruit, fruit leather retains many of the fruit’s nutrients, making it a healthier alternative to processed snacks.
For this project’s packaging, I wanted it to be convenient yet stylish. That’s why I went with a hexagonal box. It is to make the product look attractive on store shelves, especially when all the boxes are aligned and/or stacked. Similarly, I wanted the product itself to be neatly presented inside its packaging : consistent in shape and size and stacked one on top of another. Additionally, a window on one of the front panels is meant to show customers the actual product for authenticity, instead of a photo or illustration.
As someone who generally dislikes fruits for many reasons, I perfectly represent this product’s target market. Fruits are often sour instead of sweet, are juicy and sticky, and a mess to eat. My goal with this project was to create a solution that not only makes healthy snacking convenient but also visually appealing to a younger audience. This project was about blending style with practicality to encourage better eating habits in a way that feels modern and accessible.
