Red Mesh Bags for Oranges: A Clever Marketing Trick or Practical Choice? (3 photos)
Some details usually slip right under our radar, but the moment someone points them out, you can never unsee them. Take the red mesh bags around oranges, for example. You probably never gave a second thought to why they are sold in that specific packaging (though you definitely will from now on). Is there a deeper practical reason behind it, or is it just another marketing trick? Read on to find out. 
If you take a closer look at oranges in the supermarket, you'll notice they are almost always packed in red netting. Not blue, not green, not yellow—specifically red. Let’s break down why. 
As it turns out, the answer is surprisingly simple: it’s a visual marketing tactic designed to make the fruit look more enticing. The red mesh creates an optical illusion that enhances the orange tint of the peel, making the fruit appear richer, brighter, and perfectly ripe. Put them in netting of any other color, and the effect is lost. Grapefruits and mandarins, by the way, are usually sold in red mesh for the exact same reason. 
Lemons, on the other hand, are often packaged in green mesh to make their yellow rinds pop against the contrasting background. Limes also come in green bags, which subtly accentuates their fresh, zesty kick.
It is yet another reminder of how skillfully marketers can guide our subconscious choices. We’ve previously explored the sneaky psychological tricks stores use to get us to spend more—and chances are, you've taken the bait more than once.
