The Slowcook at Spydog Farm The Slowcook at Spydog Farm

Plastic Bags at the Farmers Market

May 23rd, 2009 · 12 Comments · Posted in Blog

One in hand, reaching for another

One in hand, reaching for another at Dupont Circle Farmers Market

Did it ever strike you as strange how plastic bags proliferate at the farmers market where we go to shop for locally-grown, organic food?

Somehow, it just doesn’t feel right putting food that’s supposed to be helping save the environment into a plastic bag that’s  a prime source of everyday pollution.

Some jurisdictions have had enough of plastic bags. The farmers market in Berkeley, California, recently became the first in the nation to ban plastic bags altogether. Taking a cue from San Francisco’s ban on plastic shopping bags, that city’s famed Ferry Plaza Farmers Market has told vendors to offer only bags that are biodegradable or can be composted.

Even in the District of Columbia, which typically is rather slow on the uptake where environmental matters are concerned, an overwhelming majority of the D.C. Countil has signed on to legislation that would tax merchants a nickel for every plastic bag customers use.

 

Trash in the Anacostia River

Trash in the Anacostia River

Everything left in the streets of the District of Columbia washes down the storm drains and eventually into the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. On any given day, there are literally tons of trash floating in the Anacostia–including plenty of plastic shopping bags.

Plastic is not animal-friendly

Plastic is not animal-friendly

Plastic bags kill wildlife and have an amazing lifespan. An ordinary plastic bag can foul the environment for 1,000 years before it disintegrates.

Isn’t it time for farmers markets in the District of Columbia to ditch plastic bags altogether?

Leave a Comment

Please note: Your comment may have to wait for approval to be published to ensure that we don't accidentally publish "spam". We thank you for understanding.

*

  • Julia

    I worked at the Chevy Chase (also in DC) farmers’ market last weekend and was wholly impressed at how many customers brought their own bags or managed to maximize the use of the bags they did request. They also brought back the cardboard quart and pint containers to be reused.

  • Ed Bruske

    Julia, I and a lot of other people have gotten into the habit of bringing a canvass bag to the farmers market. But lots of others are still using the plastic bags. I think our farmers markets fan be at least as environmentally friendly as the local Whole Foods, which has discontinued plastic bags–or at least the ones it used to give away at the checkout counter. Notice there are still plenty of plastic bags in the produce and bulk sections.

  • Mel

    Plastic is not ideal, but it should be the responsibility of the consumer to bring their own bag – not the market seller to provide more costly biodegradable options.

  • megwolff

    Thanks for the reminder. When I see animals wrapped in plastic it really makes me stop and think I can be even more diligent to reuse, or just add to my canvas bag.

  • Susan Hagen

    This is my basket for visits to the farmers’ market and farm stand. You can arrange things so they stand up and don’t get crushed:
    http://tinyurl.com/pzd426

    These are great reusable shopping bags. They squish down to a packet small enough to tuck in a pocket:
    http://tinyurl.com/2486po

  • Susan Hagen

    I forgot to say, while you’re visiting this site with the baskets, get yourself some shea butter. Melted with equal parts of almond oil it makes a wonderful salve for dry skin and gardener’s hands.
    http://tinyurl.com/pzd426

  • merceb

    I use the same basket as Susan. It’s flat bottom keeps things from getting squished and the vendors seem to be happy not to have to use a bag for each thing I buy.

  • Sylvie

    While I think it is the consumers’ responsibility to bring their own bags (plastic is not good for a number of items like mushrooms & strawberries, preventing breathing and encouraging rot), the market should encourage the use of re-usable bags and discourage the use of plastic (although some are recycled). Ed, I think you should take that suggestion with the market manager. It’s amazing the stuff hat can happen then: if severla consumers mention their concerns – and suggestions on how to deal with the issue – to the market managers, things happen!!!

  • Ed Bruske

    Mel, it takes two to get plastic bags into the environment, the merchant who gives them away, and the customer who takes them. Both are equally responsible in my mind.

    PS, I wonder where the plastic packaging ban would lead, since all of the meat at the farmers market is sealed in plastic.

    Meg, I’ve actually gotten to the point where I hardly ever forget my canvass bag anymore.

    Susan, I agree. There are a multitude of alternatives to plastic bags.

    M, this basket is a great idea. We need to go back to the future with our shopping habits.

  • natjwest

    For my new CSA, I’m selling hand-made terry cloth veggie bags for $5 each. My wife stitches each one up in just a few minutes. I encourage members to buy a few so I can keep some for the next week’s harvest while they have some at home. Reusing plastic veg bags is great, but at some point you need to move away from veg, and baskets don’t work for small stuff like pea pods, cherry toms, etc.

  • onebusymama

    Most of the vendors here use plastic bags also, but not brand new ones, just old bags they save themselves or other bring in. I always bring my own and most though!