New York based Murray's Chicken announced an innovative new proprietary type of packaging for its fresh poultry products.  The more eco-friendly packaging is scheduled to debut to coincide with Earth Day, April 22.

Murray's becomes the first poultry company to eliminate the use of polystyrene foam trays which are a staple in pre-packaged fresh meat products in the U.S.  The non-recyclable #6 foam tray is commonly used in food packaged due to its low cost.  Millions of the trays end up in landfills each year in the U.S.

Murray's new form filled packaging was by developed by Reiser Equipment and printed by Winpack.  The freezer-safe packaging also features a proprietary leak-resistant seal - eliminating the need to wrap their meats in additional plastic shopping bags at checkout.

"As a company that takes its social responsibility seriously, the foam tray was always a thorn in our side and we have long been exploring options," said Steve Gold, Vice President of Marketing for Murray's Chicken.  "We're excited to now offer a smart and environmentally-responsible alternative."

The new packaging will also feature Murray's new Farm Verification label - which allows consumers to use an online tracking tool to find out information on the actual farm their chicken came from and the family that raised it.

The Farm Verification label is similar to a program Dole rolled out last year allowing consumers to track the origin of its organic bananas.

Murray's new packaging is now available in all case ready SKUs Gold said.  The products are carried by major supermarket retailers, gourmet shops, and health food stores throughout the East Coast.