I have a question about buying fruits and vegetables at the store. The book I'm reading advocates eliminating almost all plastics from one's environment and replacing them with natural materials whenever possible (still not sure of the do-ability of that...)
Anyway, I was wondering but the book does not say, if a person goes that far, then what do you put your organic produce in when you pick it out at the store? Don't all the stores provide plastic bags?
Also, has anyone seen that informercial on TV about special green bags that are supposed to keep your produce fresh in your fridge for a longer period of time? I was wondering if they really work and if they contain any toxic substances.
I don't worry about plastics as much as perhaps I should. But I can suggest that here in Germany many people carry cotton cloth bags around with them when they go grocery shopping. They are available from many stores (for purchase) with and without logos on them, so it becomes fun looking at other people's bags to see where they shop. In the US, if you can't find them, they are easy to sew -- ask a friend who sews if you think that your sewing skills are not up to it. You can make/buy them in whatever colors suit your fancy, or in unbleached muslin.
I have a lot of them in different sizes, and wash them separately (so that they don't get sock lint and cat hair and other unsavory things on them in the wash) in hot water.
Living without plastic would be extremely difficult. Like the other poster suggested, using a cloth or canvas type bag for produce would work. I saw the green bags on TV too, I am not sure of the material they are made from, but if they do work, it is worth the money. I don't eat a lot of food, so half of my produce doesn't even get touched.
I have a question about buying fruits and vegetables at the store. The book I'm reading advocates eliminating almost all plastics from one's environment and replacing them with natural materials whenever possible (still not sure of the do-ability of that...)
Anyway, I was wondering but the book does not say, if a person goes that far, then what do you put your organic produce in when you pick it out at the store? Don't all the stores provide plastic bags?
Also, has anyone seen that informercial on TV about special green bags that are supposed to keep your produce fresh in your fridge for a longer period of time? I was wondering if they really work and if they contain any toxic substances.
Lori
Interesting post......I purchase a lot of organics each week, and use plastic bags, but not to store them in at home. Although they are organic, they still need to be washed (I use vinegar and warm water), so wouldn't whatever the plastic contains come off in the rinsing? I wouldn't heat anything in plastic, but what else does anyone see that the plastic would do that would be harmful if the organics are washed? Using cloth bags would work too, but how many would it take to accommodate all the fruits and veggies? I purchase about 8 apples a week, and pears, kiwii, grapes, avocado, spinach, red leaf, celery, onions, and many many more. Got me thinking now.......thank you for the post.
Hi everyone, thanks for the good info. I agree, living without plastic would probably be very difficult. And as my husband pointed out, we'd just wash the produce at home anyway, and not necessarily store it in the plastic bags.
Rheanna, the cloth bag thing has caught on here, too, at least in California it has. Most of the grocery stores sell cloth bags. I have yet to see most shoppers actually using them, though, although a few do.
I like using cloth bags to shop and do believe we have way too much plastic in our lives. The off gassing of many of the newest plastics are pretty bad for me as I have multiple chemical sensitivity. Recently I was exposed to a new refridgerator which was quite toxic for me. I have not had any discernible reaction to grocery bags but I'm not exposed to them by the thousands either. One thing I do know is that it is a very bad idea to store your produce in plastic bags as that promotes mold growth, something nobody needs to be happening in their fridge/kitchen...
The green bags? I don't know what they are made of, I think a type of breathable plastic. I am quite mold allergic and so, do not keep anything long in my fridge, including left overs, and so, have no need of these anymore and do not advocate them now. I freeze everything very quickly these days with the good news being that I have a well stocked freezer most of the time which allows for quick, healthy meals when I'm tired, not feeling well, etc.
Organic produce and plastic bags 
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