Growers in Union, Iredell and Rowan counties use octabins as watermelon, pumpkin and squash bins. Ask for the footprint, the wall count and a need-by date, and decide the liner and the food rules yourself.
Why growers use octabins
A melon or a pumpkin is round, heavy and unforgiving of a bulging wall. An octabin's cut corners resist bulging, and its sidewalls are built for dense, flowable or heavy loads. The common octabin is 46 x 38 x 36 inches inside, usually 5‑wall or heavy triple wall; one maker lists 2,200 lb capacity (source). Growers also call them watermelon bins and pumpkin bins.
The questions that matter
When do you need them? Harvest does not wait. Add the need-by date to the request.
How many? A grower's count can run to hundreds; say whether it is one delivery or several.
Which footprint? Octagon on 48 x 40 is common.
Liner or none? The buyer decides, and the box's history matters.
Where will they sit? In a field, a packing shed or a trailer.
Moisture is the grower's problem
Produce bins sit in fields and sheds, and a bin's board takes in humidity. Corrugated can lose about half of its compression strength when relative humidity rises from 50 to 90 percent (source). Keep the bins on pallets, under cover where you can, and fill them close to the time of use.
Food rules
Corrugated is not a food-contact surface. A liner and a clean history are the buyer's call. The food-grade guide lays out the questions, and the liner page covers the bag. We do not say a used bin is food safe.
After harvest
Empty bins can go back into use for the next harvest or for another grower. Knock them down, stack them dry and describe them in a sell request. The sell hub has the steps, and the folding and storing guide shows how to keep them sound over winter.
New or used
A new bin carries its full rating. A used bin that stayed dry may do the same work for the season. The new or used guide walks it. For octabin details, the octabin page lists the sizes and the size page works through the numbers.
Ask
Send the count, the footprint, the wall count, the need-by date and the ZIP.
Where this lane runs
The plan for this site names these places as running food, agriculture and life sciences. Each links to its own page, with ZIPs and neighbors.
CharlotteBiopharmaceuticals. The I-85 and I-77 junction; Norfolk Southern's 200-acre intermodal terminal at Charlotte Douglas replaced a 40-acre downtown yard. Send your ZIP.
KannapolisFood, nutrition and biotech research. Former Cannon Mills town; the 350-acre North Carolina Research Campus sits at the city's center and Haas F1 is headquartered here. ZIP 28081, 28082, 28083.
ShelbyFood processing. Cleveland County seat; textiles were its chief industry from the 1920s. ZIP 28150, 28151, 28152.
LancasterNutritional supplements. Lancaster County seat on US 521. ZIP 29720, 29721, 29722.
Mecklenburg CountyBiopharmaceuticals. The county the region's labor and freight revolve around; Norfolk Southern's intermodal terminal sits inside Charlotte Douglas airport between two runways. Send your ZIP.
Gaston CountyLivestock processing. Textile and thread county west of Charlotte across the Catawba River, with truck plants in Mount Holly and Gastonia. ZIP 28052, 28053, 28054, 28055, 28056, 28012, 28120, 28034, 28021.
Cabarrus CountyFood and beverage. I-85 county northeast of Charlotte; major employers named by the regional partnership include Amazon, Corning, Lilly, FedEx and Hendrick Motorsports. ZIP 28025, 28026, 28027, 28081, 28082, 28083, 28075.
Iredell CountyAgriculture, life sciences. Where I-77 meets I-40; employers listed include Cheney Brothers, Denso, Doosan, Kewaunee, NGK, Sherwin Williams and Trane Technologies. ZIP 28115, 28117, 28625, 28677, 28687.
Lincoln CountyFood and beverage. Employers listed include American Woodmark, Blum, Bosch, Cataler, LeeBoy and Timken. ZIP 28092, 28093.
Catawba CountyFood processing. Hickory, Newton and Conover on I-40; fiber-optic cable, furniture and tape makers. ZIP 28601, 28602, 28603, 28658, 28613.
Cleveland CountyFood processing. West on US 74 and I-85; employers listed include Clearwater Paper, Eaton, Greenheck, KSM Castings and STI Fabrics. ZIP 28150, 28151, 28152, 28086.
Lancaster County, SCNutritional supplements. Employers listed include Nutramax Laboratories, Continental and OceanaGold. ZIP 29720, 29721, 29722.
Questions from the dock
What bins do growers use for watermelons?
Octabins, also sold as watermelon bins, for their cut corners and heavy-load walls.
Are used pumpkin bins okay?
A dry, sound used bin can do the work. Food rules and liners are your decision.
When should I order?
As early as you can, with the need-by date in the request.
Request gaylords or a pickup
Count, footprint and wall count are enough to start.