Produce bags

**perSue** · 02-19-2009, 10:22 AM

Okay, so I've tried using one of those see-thru knit bags for my produce... but I've gotten really dirty comments or been asked not to use them.

My store provides plastic see-thru bags for produce to be placed in.
I try not to use these if at all possible... but end up soaking/rinsing/cleaning produce for a long time. lol
(it touches the cart, the cashier touches it, etc.)

so what do you use? does your store provide something reusable?

i'd like to use those mesh market bags, the small ones (i can make on my own!), but i'd need so many, as i buy mostly produce when i go to the store. lol

thanks in advance.

**TexasPeanut** · 02-19-2009, 10:32 AM

My local grocery store provides the large roll of see thru plastic bags for what produce they do not already have packaged in mesh bags. So that's what I use. At my store each vegetable and fruit has a 4 digit code number on the bin it's in and there are digital scales everywhere so you place your goods in the scales, punch in the code, the amount of things in the bag if it asks "how many" and then hit print and it prints out your price sticker that you stick on the bag. Makes it sort of easier and faster at checkout plus you ensure you aren't getting charged wrong for the produce. The added bonus is they aren't touching it. I reuse some of those bags at home when I walk around collecting small amounts of trash. I use reusable totes for the rest of my groceries.

**Contrary Housewife** · 02-19-2009, 10:44 AM

I use the plastic ones the store provides, if I am buying multiple pieces. If it's a single hand of bananas or a melon I don't bother bagging it. Any bags I do use, I tend to re-use in summer when I have garden produce to store. I also use them to collect scraps for compost.

**sabrelvssammy** · 02-19-2009, 11:11 AM

i will not use a produce bag either on single items (or very few items) but when i get to the register they always try to throw them in another bag (i'm talking about when that's ALL i'm buying) and i say 'no-i don't need a bag'....they ALWAYS question me....are you sure?????

in fact they seem to do that with anything i buy...if i am only buying a few items i will carry them by hand to the car...no bag needed...but they act like that's just nuts....

i do have one clerk at one store finally trained and she sees me and always says "oh yea- you're the no bag lady...".... SHE has gotten it....

**The Muse** · 02-19-2009, 12:10 PM

I don't use anything unless I'm buying something wet like lettuce, then I reluctantly use the plastic bags provided. It does look a little odd seeing 3 stray peppers rolling down the belt, but I don't see the point of taking something I'm just going to throw out as soon as I get home.

**dogmatix** · 02-20-2009, 07:23 AM

Depends on the item and on the store. If I'm not eating the skin bananas, cantelope, onion, then no bag. If it's broccoli, then bag. Also, and this is kind of elitist and I'm so sorry, if it's at a super center with tons of people mucking around I bag it, if it's a farmers market or Trader Joes, not so much.

**perSue** · 02-20-2009, 08:07 AM

thanks everyone.

i just thought since so many are moving to taknig their own (usually cloth) bags or boxes... I was wondering if anyone else was eschewing the plastic produce bag.
I'm thinking of going back to my bags I can make myself... I have a couple now... I'll just make them hemp or white coloured so that the food stands out from the bag (vs dark green & carrying cucumbers! lol)

Thanks!!!

**sabrelvssammy** · 02-20-2009, 09:31 AM

when i do get the produce bags i don't throw them out...i use them for litter like the grocery bags and then just tie em shut...

**Darlene** · 02-20-2009, 01:34 PM

I don't think I'd like the mesh bags as they would (i think) add more weight to my produce and that means spending more money.

**peaceful bird** · 02-20-2009, 01:40 PM

I use the mesh bags for everything but fruits and veggies. I use them to carry stuff that I buy on short trips or when I go to the farmers market (I tend to buy my produce from a local farm, and honey, butter, etc. from market).

**sabrelvssammy** · 02-20-2009, 01:41 PM

you sound like me now...when i buy the broccoli 'crowns' i look for the ones that are cut closet to the 'floret' so that i don't have to pay for the weight of the x-tra stalk....

**Debbie-cat** · 02-20-2009, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by sabrelvssammy

you sound like me now...when i buy the broccoli 'crowns' i look for the ones that are cut closet to the 'floret' so that i don't have to pay for the weight of the x-tra stalk....

Ahhhh! Me too!

**Libby** · 02-20-2009, 06:38 PM

I save up my produce bags and keep a few on hand for whatever I may need around the house - toting lunches to work to place in the fridge, separating things on a picnic - cutlery and dishes; samiches etc.

The one thing I tend to do most is make an air ballon for friend's children to play with and if they pop it - oh well...it gave us 2 hours of entertainment. So what if it's not pretty and pink or blue and opaque right? The kids just kick it or volley it around.

The other use I have is I recycle it either in the grocery store - the big bin that says to put them there to recycle OR I give to my friend who has small dogs she needs to pick up after on her walks. She does use reusable grocery bags but loves the produce ones as they're the right size for her.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 02-20-2009, 08:15 PM

I try to buy my produce already bagged. If I'm buying produce that needs to be put into the plastic see-through bags that the store provides, I save my produce bags for when I peel carrots or potatoes and then throw the peels in the bags. I then twist the bag around and put a twist tie on it, put it in a bucket under my sink, then throw the bag away when it gets full.

I also use the produce bags when I buy packages of pork chops, ground beef, etc that fit inside the bags. It keeps my meat from being poked through the plastic film covering and leaking all over the insides of my bags or my groceries that are with them. It's happened before and I had to toss a reusable plastic grocery bag because of it.

**gardening momma** · 02-20-2009, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by MomToTwoBoys

I also use the produce bags when I buy packages of pork chops, ground beef, etc that fit inside the bags. It keeps my meat from being poked through the plastic film covering and leaking all over the insides of my bags or my groceries that are with them. It's happened before and I had to toss a reusable plastic grocery bag because of it.

In every store around here there's always plastic bags available for meat...just like in the produce dept, but they're clear in the meat dept. I use them for my meat because usually the meat already has juice on the outside of the pkg.

For produce...as far as using a bag or having bare naked produce

on the checkout belt...there's been an awful lot of stuff on that belt, so I'd much rather use a bag. I usually put mine in our recycling bin, but I should use it for kitty litter, as sabrelvssammy suggested.