Most meat is in plastic. I was feeling quite superior about myself for preferring the meat in freezer paper until I realized that I can’t recycle or compost it, so it’s landfill-bound anyway (I still prefer it, since it is re-sealable unlike a plastic wrapper, I just don’t feel superior about it). At least there are almost no styrofoam trays, except for the vendor who does the fresh and smoked trout — and really, isn’t local smoked trout worth the environmental degradation of a polystyrene tray?

Most cheese is in plastic. Same note about “waxed” paper cheese wrappers and my false sense of moral superiority.

If you don’t specify, all vendors will give you a plastic bag to put your stuff in. A few pre-pack produce in paper sacks, which I always save and never remember to bring with me the next time. The big difference is that they will often thank you for not taking it. About the only time I’ll take the plastic bag now is if I’m getting a couple of pounds of discounted over-ripe tomatoes to make sauce with, since they don’t play well with others loose in my canvass tote.

Cranberries come in 1 lb plastic bags. period. Apple cider comes in plastic jugs (recyclable, but plastic nonetheless). Fresh, locally made pasta comes in plastic, just like they sell it at grocery stores.

The farmer who sells eggs uses a mix of styrofoam and cardboard — all reused! He also specifically asks all repeat customers to bring the cartons back so he can use them again. Frequently, there are two or more date stickers on the carton, with the older ones crossed out proving that the reuse stream is doing well.

The big advantage at the farmer’s market is the local aspect of it and I guess saving some petroleum-based fuel by purchasing from local farmers somewhat offsets the petroleum-based packaging. The other big advantage is that they all seem to use as little packaging as they deem necessary to keep their product in good shape. You’ll never see a polystyrene tray with plastic film wrap then encased in a plastic-coated cardboard sleeve with a pretty picture on it.

I can see your main point is to reuse bags, though, and on that I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately I think it will require a level of effort on the part of the consumer that they’re just not willing to make yet.
Keep up the good enviromental lobbying!

At least in Sweden, in larger stores, or in market type sales halls, cheese is stored in a fridge behind glass without any packaging. The person behind the counter cuts the part you wnat and wraps it in paper.

SOmetimes thin plastic foil as well, but you can ask them not to use that.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Leah

I also avoid processed stuff. Helps the environment, my waistline, and of course — my overall health!

RVM