I need a little help with shipping container advice and jelly jars . . .

S

steve2-in-la

Well-known member
As some of you know, I spent the Spring canning preserves from the "bounty" of our backyard fruit trees.

The 150+ jars are in great shape and the 16 varieties (8 White-Fig mixes, 5 Ollalieberry mixes, Vanilla-Peach, Apple Butter, Blackberry, Strawberry-Rhubarb, etc . . . I know, I know, I had entirely too much time on my hands) are individually labeled.

Over the years, many of these flavors have achieved a degree of popularity amongst our friends and relatives so, CB and I have decided to give gifts of 6-8 jars for the hollydaze.

The challenge is shipping containers. My ideal packaging would be a Styrofoam box (similar to those in which wine bottles are shipped) with holes for at least a half-dozen jars, that fits into its own cardboard box. In the past, I've used actual wine bottle shipping boxes but they're just too large.

I've explored on-line options but haven't really encountered anything that doesn't involve wrapping each jar in bubbles and burying them in a larger box full of styro-peanuts, which is the kind of thing we usually encounter.

I'm hoping for a presentation that's a little slicker but less labor intensive.

Anyone?

 
Go to Smart and Final and see if they have any empty boxes from cases of canned goods.

Not pretty, but it should have the criss-cross cardboard divider that will keep your jars intact.

Michael

 
Steve, I have had much success in shipping jars of jelly/jam. . .

by using newspaper. I get a box that is several inches bigger than the stacked jars. The jars are shipped with the rings on. Pack the bottom with firmly crumpled news paper, to keep the jars 1-2 inches from the bottom. Start placing jars, packing firmly crumpled newspaper, and plenty of it, around each to keep the jars at least 1-2 inces firmly apart. Keep all jars at least 1-2 inches away from the sides of the box. Make sure you seal the box well with good shipping tape.

This has worked for me; everything ships well and no jars have been lost. The only problem is I cannot afford to ship stuff anymore--the rates have gone up so much! Or maybe it's all that paper. . . ? smileys/wink.gif

 
I agree mistral...excellent instructions and the honest truth about the shipping cost.

Even an EMPTY 4 oz jar exceeds the "first class" shipping rate once you put it in box with packing.

Jars and shipping costs are much higher than the ingredients for my chocolate sauce, even using imported Belgium chocolate.

Now that's just wrong.

 
Another suggestion: Do you have an apple orchard near you? I get apples mail-order

and they pack the layers of apples using punched-out foam. Each little apple is surrounded by soft foam so they don't touch each other. I kept one 20" piece (16 holes punched out) to use the next time I ship jars.

Maybe you could get some of that foam from them. It's a pretty purple color.

 
try to use the flat rate boxes---2 different sizes. the deeper one would work

well for a few jars. these have been a real lifesaver for me when sending gifts to the lower 48. you could mail 50 pounds for the same rate as 5, as long as the boxes are not overstuffed and waaaaay out of whack. My boxes have been a bit "bulging" but were OK.(same thing could be said about my thighs smileys/smile.gif

 
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