ConservingNow Community Change

You already bring your own carrier bag to the farmer's market, and yet so many of us still rely on the plastic produce bags offered by the vendors. A trend in farmer's markets nationwide is to ban these bags, but if your farmer's market hasn't done so yet, here are some tips for packing your carrier bag so you won't need to use any plastic produce bags.

• Heavier items, such as potatoes, onions, zucchini or squashes can be placed directly in carrier bag on the bottom.
• Softer items, such as summer fruits and tomatoes, should be placed gently on the top, with nothing further placed in the bag.
• Lettuces, broccoli, greens and other vegetables that don't bruise, can be placed in the middle or packed in the bag around the other fruits and vegetables.
• For the smallest items, such as cherry tomatoes, consider bringing your own canvas or mesh produce bags, or re-use any plastic bags you may have from the supermarket or farmer's market.
• Once at home, items should be stored loose in your refrigerator's drawers.
• Leafy greens should be stored in biodegradable bags or glass containers as they tend to wilt in the fridge.
• Root vegetables, tomatoes and most fruits can be stored on your kitchen counter.
• Once the fruit has ripen it can be transferred to a bowl in the fridge - delicious for a cold snack on a hot summer's day!
• Finally, make sure your fridge and fruit bowls are free of rotting fruit or vegetables. Rotting fruit can cause other fruits and vegetables near it to rot as well.