Comments on: Store Report: Berkeley Bowl (a response to my letter) http://myplasticfreelife.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-response-to/ Learn to live life with less plastic... for the health of our bodies, our oceans, our planet. I don't buy new plastic. Join me on my plastic-free journey. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:55:13 +0000 hourly 1 By: maggi http://myplasticfreelife.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-response-to/comment-page-1/#comment-35311 maggi Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:49:42 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-a-response-to-my-letter/#comment-35311 thank you so much for showing the berkley bowl. i lived in el cerrito many years ago and worked at herrick hospital. i always stopped there to shop before going home. after 20 years i still miss the bay area. im glad to see that some things havent changed. thats good. thanks, mag thank you so much for showing the berkley bowl. i lived in el cerrito many years ago and worked at herrick hospital. i always stopped there to shop before going home. after 20 years i still miss the bay area. im glad to see that some things havent changed. thats good.
thanks,
mag

]]> By: Sarah http://myplasticfreelife.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-response-to/comment-page-1/#comment-5228 Sarah Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:15:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-a-response-to-my-letter/#comment-5228 The Berkeley Bowl definitely has its high and low points. I buy whatever possible from the bulk bins and bring my own reused plastic bags. However, I have called and inquired in person many times with many different people about wet bulk items such as oils. (I do bring my own jars to get pb.) Everyone tells me something different. I was told that I could leave my name and number and they would call when they fill their bulk oils. But they never call. Therefore, I buy my oils from a wholesale distributer. It drives my mad that wet bulk goods are packaged into virgin plastic containers. This defeats one of the main reasons I buy food in bulk.<br/><br/>Also, while the Bowl now uses biodegradable cups, they have no compost bins anywhere to properly dispose of them. Everything from the dining area and samples go into the trash. Compostable cups are almost pointless in my opinion if they are going into a landfill, which does not have the conditions for organic material to break down (and be taken advantage of) without forming toxic gases.<br/><br/>Thank you for, Beth, for you blog and communication with stores about their practices.<br/><br/>Sarah The Berkeley Bowl definitely has its high and low points. I buy whatever possible from the bulk bins and bring my own reused plastic bags. However, I have called and inquired in person many times with many different people about wet bulk items such as oils. (I do bring my own jars to get pb.) Everyone tells me something different. I was told that I could leave my name and number and they would call when they fill their bulk oils. But they never call. Therefore, I buy my oils from a wholesale distributer. It drives my mad that wet bulk goods are packaged into virgin plastic containers. This defeats one of the main reasons I buy food in bulk.

Also, while the Bowl now uses biodegradable cups, they have no compost bins anywhere to properly dispose of them. Everything from the dining area and samples go into the trash. Compostable cups are almost pointless in my opinion if they are going into a landfill, which does not have the conditions for organic material to break down (and be taken advantage of) without forming toxic gases.

Thank you for, Beth, for you blog and communication with stores about their practices.

Sarah

]]> By: Dani http://myplasticfreelife.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-response-to/comment-page-1/#comment-2189 Dani Sun, 20 Apr 2008 09:45:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-a-response-to-my-letter/#comment-2189 Does Berkeley Bowl have a section in front for used plastic bags so that people who forget to bring their own can take from there, or bring used ones to leave there for others to use?<br/>It may not be an end all solution but it helps, and it wouldn't cost Berkeley Bowl very much at atll. Does Berkeley Bowl have a section in front for used plastic bags so that people who forget to bring their own can take from there, or bring used ones to leave there for others to use?
It may not be an end all solution but it helps, and it wouldn’t cost Berkeley Bowl very much at atll.

]]> By: mommafar http://myplasticfreelife.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-response-to/comment-page-1/#comment-1565 mommafar Sat, 01 Mar 2008 08:06:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-a-response-to-my-letter/#comment-1565 Great blog site! I live in a small town where recycling takes more work, no curbside, it's haul your own. I have a great health food store, Mt. Hope, and they are good about offering wet and dry bulk items. I love to read new ideas about recycling and organic gardening. Thanks! Elaine Great blog site! I live in a small town where recycling takes more work, no curbside, it’s haul your own. I have a great health food store, Mt. Hope, and they are good about offering wet and dry bulk items. I love to read new ideas about recycling and organic gardening. Thanks! Elaine

]]> By: Fake Plastic Fish http://myplasticfreelife.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-response-to/comment-page-1/#comment-1534 Fake Plastic Fish Fri, 29 Feb 2008 04:26:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-a-response-to-my-letter/#comment-1534 Hi Peter. Thanks for stopping by my blog. And thanks for letting me know that Berkeley Bowl will accomodate packaging "wet" items in my own containers. When I asked the clerk about purchasing olive oil in my own container, he told me that it was only available prepackaged in Berkeley Bowl's plastic containers. Perhaps the clerks are not all informed of the policy? Or maybe this guy was new.<br/><br/>In any case, I do enjoy Berkeley Bowl's 450 bulk bins, but I assure you that Rainbow has way more. I direct you to this page on their web site where they state they have over 800 bulk products to choose from.<br/><br/><a HREF="http://www.rainbowgrocery.org/products/bulk.html" REL="nofollow">http://www.rainbowgrocery.org/products/bulk.html</a><br/><br/>Perhaps it would be instructive for you to stop by some time and check out the competition. The store is not the same as it was back in the Mission Street days. It's much bigger. And I don't see big messes in the wet bulk department. <br/><br/>I stand by the statement that Rainbow carries many more bulk items than Berkeley Bowl, but I will continue to shop at Berkeley Bowl because it's conveniently located on my side of the bay. Hi Peter. Thanks for stopping by my blog. And thanks for letting me know that Berkeley Bowl will accomodate packaging “wet” items in my own containers. When I asked the clerk about purchasing olive oil in my own container, he told me that it was only available prepackaged in Berkeley Bowl’s plastic containers. Perhaps the clerks are not all informed of the policy? Or maybe this guy was new.

In any case, I do enjoy Berkeley Bowl’s 450 bulk bins, but I assure you that Rainbow has way more. I direct you to this page on their web site where they state they have over 800 bulk products to choose from.

http://www.rainbowgrocery.org/products/bulk.html

Perhaps it would be instructive for you to stop by some time and check out the competition. The store is not the same as it was back in the Mission Street days. It’s much bigger. And I don’t see big messes in the wet bulk department.

I stand by the statement that Rainbow carries many more bulk items than Berkeley Bowl, but I will continue to shop at Berkeley Bowl because it’s conveniently located on my side of the bay.

]]> By: Pedro47 http://myplasticfreelife.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-response-to/comment-page-1/#comment-1532 Pedro47 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 04:11:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-a-response-to-my-letter/#comment-1532 Hello Beth,<br/> I'd like to clear up some misconceptions that you have about the Berkeley Bowl Bulk Foods Department. First off comes your statement that we have "...more bulk food bins than any grocery that I've found beside Rainbow..." We have over 450 bins of items, not to mention pre-packaged items available only in that form. I haven't been to Rainbow Grocery recently, but I seriously doubt that they have anything close to 450 bulk bin items...and that's an underestimate on my part. Did you count the number of bins at Rainbow and at Berkeley Bowl to come up with your assertation that they have more? If not, you perhaps should do so and come up with a more realistic conclusion (and perhaps subsequent apology).<br/> As far as "wet" items go, we always allow customers to bring in their own containers and accommodate that. If you want peanut butter, we'll grind it on the spot. For other items, you may have to wait until we package that item, but we'll fill your container and call you when it's ready. While this may not fulfill the average American's ideal of "instant satisfaction", it's a service we gladly provide. All you have to do is ask. We have many long-term customers who gladly avail us of this service, and we're happy to comply with any who would wish it. We can not offer self-service peanut butter or oils because of space restraints, and quite frankly, customer mess issues.<br/>I used to live in the Mission and shopped at Rainbow all the time. Granted, this was a few years ago, but the mess generated by the general public dissuaded me from buying products in this area.<br/>In any event, you can get your "wet " products in bulk in your own container--you just have to ask.<br/><br/>Peter Seith<br/>Bulk Foods Department Manager<br/>Berkeley Bowl Hello Beth,
I’d like to clear up some misconceptions that you have about the Berkeley Bowl Bulk Foods Department. First off comes your statement that we have “…more bulk food bins than any grocery that I’ve found beside Rainbow…” We have over 450 bins of items, not to mention pre-packaged items available only in that form. I haven’t been to Rainbow Grocery recently, but I seriously doubt that they have anything close to 450 bulk bin items…and that’s an underestimate on my part. Did you count the number of bins at Rainbow and at Berkeley Bowl to come up with your assertation that they have more? If not, you perhaps should do so and come up with a more realistic conclusion (and perhaps subsequent apology).
As far as “wet” items go, we always allow customers to bring in their own containers and accommodate that. If you want peanut butter, we’ll grind it on the spot. For other items, you may have to wait until we package that item, but we’ll fill your container and call you when it’s ready. While this may not fulfill the average American’s ideal of “instant satisfaction”, it’s a service we gladly provide. All you have to do is ask. We have many long-term customers who gladly avail us of this service, and we’re happy to comply with any who would wish it. We can not offer self-service peanut butter or oils because of space restraints, and quite frankly, customer mess issues.
I used to live in the Mission and shopped at Rainbow all the time. Granted, this was a few years ago, but the mess generated by the general public dissuaded me from buying products in this area.
In any event, you can get your “wet ” products in bulk in your own container–you just have to ask.

Peter Seith
Bulk Foods Department Manager
Berkeley Bowl

]]> By: Jamie http://myplasticfreelife.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-response-to/comment-page-1/#comment-1371 Jamie Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:40:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-a-response-to-my-letter/#comment-1371 Hi Beth,<br/><br/>Awesome blogging! I found you while researching Brita filters and just kept reading and reading. WOW! <br/><br/>So here's my comment. Some stores in Europe charge people for each bag the store has to provide. I don't know why grocers here don't do that. Bet we'd see a heap of people start reusing if it hit them in the wallet.<br/><br/>Keep up the great work!!<br/>Jamie, SF Hi Beth,

Awesome blogging! I found you while researching Brita filters and just kept reading and reading. WOW!

So here’s my comment. Some stores in Europe charge people for each bag the store has to provide. I don’t know why grocers here don’t do that. Bet we’d see a heap of people start reusing if it hit them in the wallet.

Keep up the great work!!
Jamie, SF

]]> By: mike wallace http://myplasticfreelife.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-response-to/comment-page-1/#comment-247 mike wallace Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:12:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-a-response-to-my-letter/#comment-247 Dear Beth,<br/>I am more than shocked but mostly saddened by the comments about corn based bag pricing being 20 or more times as expensive as the "traditional" plastic bags. <br/>Greenlandbioplastics.com sells biodegradable bags made from 100%(sustainable) corn; for MERE pennies above plastic bags made from imported oil. Furthermore they have a wide variety of sizes and offer cups and food tray items as well. info@greenlandbioplastics.com is a great venue for cost competitive corn products.<br/>Thanks, Mike Dear Beth,
I am more than shocked but mostly saddened by the comments about corn based bag pricing being 20 or more times as expensive as the “traditional” plastic bags.
Greenlandbioplastics.com sells biodegradable bags made from 100%(sustainable) corn; for MERE pennies above plastic bags made from imported oil. Furthermore they have a wide variety of sizes and offer cups and food tray items as well. info@greenlandbioplastics.com is a great venue for cost competitive corn products.
Thanks, Mike

]]> By: Sunny http://myplasticfreelife.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-response-to/comment-page-1/#comment-246 Sunny Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:14:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/08/store-report-berkeley-bowl-a-response-to-my-letter/#comment-246 I would have never thought of putting something more expensive on the bottom and something cheaper on the top. The lengths people will go to and I have to pay for it. Makes me angry! Thanks for your blog Beth. I would have never thought of putting something more expensive on the bottom and something cheaper on the top. The lengths people will go to and I have to pay for it. Makes me angry! Thanks for your blog Beth.

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