Reusable Cloth Produce Bags - Greening Up Grocery Shopping

I've been meaning to do this for a long time... I've wanted to tell you and everybody about a change we made for the better!  It's really pretty exciting because it's something that anybody can do.  As you know, I really dislike creating unnecessary waste.  I always cringe at the grocery store when I watch how many hundreds of plastic produce bags get used, knowing that they will all meet their fate in the garbage can later.  For a long time we just didn't use bags for our produce at all!  All of our apples, potatoes, carrots, peaches -whatever - would roll around in the shopping cart, and then in our bags, co-mingling with each other, unprotected.  It wasn't a huge bother for me... but, I did sort of miss having them all separated and organized.  Then I discovered reusable cloth produce bags, and they have made all the difference!

Helping hands... for less waste and a better future.

Now when we venture out to get groceries, we bring our bags along and fill them proudly.  They weigh virtually nothing, so there isn't any additional cost associated with using them.  Not only that, but to own a set of your own is very affordable.  We carry them in our shop because we want you to have the opportunity to make this change as well.  I can only imagine that we're not the only ones who feel a little sick watching all of the waste created by using plastic, disposable baggies for produce - knowing that when they make it to the landfill, they will sit there for hundreds of years.   Reusable cloth produce bags are a much better alternative.

She loves to "pick" her own fruit!

Choosing a special snack for packed lunches from the bulk bins.

Reusable cloth produce bags are also great for purchasing bulk items.  Our co-op has a ginormous wall of options, including grains, pasta, granola, snacks, etc...  We use our bags for these goodies, just as we do for produce.  The bags have a drawstring, so they can be easily closed and our SKU tag attaches very nicely to the string as well!  We've had nothing but success and smiles from strangers when we use these bags!

I would like to challenge and encourage you to make this change too!  It's easy, green, and affordable for everyone.  Why not do this for yourself and your family in honor of Earth Day?  It's a small gesture that shows how much you really care about not creating waste, and not adding unnecessary plastics to our landfills!

 

*Our photos were taken at our favorite natural food store, New Pioneer Food Co-Op, in Coralville, Iowa.  Sending them a big "Thank You" for having such an awesome selection of goodness, and for allowing us the opportunity to look goofy taking photos in the grocery store!*