Whether it be the local mom-and-pop grocery down the street or the enormous Walmart by the interstate highway, most grocery stores are going to get their bananas in the same type of box, which is able to hold up to 50 pounds, and ready-made with handles. These boxes are one of the best-kept secrets in personal relocation, and provide a number of benefits:
First, They're Free At Most Grocery Stores.
To most stores, banana boxes are nothing but a hassle after they've been emptied. They take up space in the back room, and they take a long time to dispose of relative to other cardboard items, since they can't be broken down into their flat components as easily. So when a customer comes up to an employee asking if there are any extra banana boxes, most will jump at the chance to make them another person's responsibility.
Certain retailers may charge a dime or so for the boxes, but it's highly unlikely. By comparison, purchasing boxes for moving personal items can take a chunk of change out of the wallet. Banana boxes are a great money-saver in this area.
Second, They're Ergonomic And Easy To Use.
Moving can cause a lot of stress. Items often don't fit quite like people want to, and some boxes are just plain difficult to move. If a box without handles is heavy and has to be moved downstairs, precious fragile items can break, and the alternative, moving slowly, can make moving a major use of time.
Banana boxes are designed for produce workers to move quickly in bulk across a sales floor. They have handles in several places, they're sturdy, and they stack in nearly any orientation. This means that they can easily be arranged, fit into the family car, and moved to just about anywhere - and the hole in the top means that the box doesn't even have to be opened in order to be packed! The holes save time and the handles save the back. It's a clear advantage over the traditional box.
Third, They Reduce Waste And Have Extra Functionality.
Most people want to live green, but often times this means trading one's lavish lifestyle for something a little less comfortable. Sure, a cold shower is good for the environment, but who wants a cold shower? Altruistically, though, most will jump at the chance to help the environment at little to no cost to one-self. Using banana boxes is just one such example.
Banana boxes, if unused, may get recycled - or they may get thrown away. Reusing them guarantees that their usefulness exists for more than simply getting bananas from Guatemala to Rhode Island. After the move, banana boxes make great makeshift furniture until the movers show up (turned sideways, they can seat a 120-pound person). Not to mention, if any friends are moving, the boxes can generally be passed on. They make great cat toys, kids can use them to make forts, and if nothing else, they can hold those trinkets that never get unpacked from the move!
Next time something needs to get from Salt Lake City to Seattle, or from the garage to the attic, consider stopping by the produce section during the next grocery shopping trip and picking up a banana box or two. Their functionality and economy could provide a pleasant surprise.
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