Where are the best places and stores to grocery shop to cut down on the amount of plastic they use to bag their food?

Location:Santa Cruz, California, United States

Name: Jacob Harrison

Week: 1

Personal Info:

Male- 19 years old, I am a Marine Biology Major at UC Santa Cruz.

Jacob Harrison’s personal blog:

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
-plastic water bottles
-plastic to go containers

Total items collected: 14

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
-Plastic bags, if I bag them together
-Yogurt cup

Items: Nonrecyclable
-plastic packaging
-plastic wrappers

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
-plastic packaging

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
-plastic wrapped candy

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
-yogurt cups

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
-making more food at home

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
-plastic bags

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?