"Green" Shopping Tips for the Farmers' Markets:

Reduce the use of plastic bags:

• Bring your own bag: whether it’s canvas, cloth, or just the plastic bags you saved from last week’s trip, remember to stash your reusable bags in your car or bike basket and bring them with you to the farmers’ market every week.
• When a farmer offers you a plastic bag, smile and say “no thanks.” Be a model for other shoppers at the market by using your own bags.

Come prepared:

• If you're planning to eat lunch or dinner at the market, bring your own fork. Paper plates will break down in compost bins, but most cutlery can’t be recycled or composted. If a food producer is using compostable products tell them you appreciate it!
• Pack up before you go: you might be sleepy leaving the house to go to the farmers’ market on Saturday morning, so pack for the market the night before: get your reusable bags ready, along with your coffee mug, fork, and maybe a resealable plastic container for strawberries (old yogurt containers work great).

Leave the car behind:

• Why not walk or ride your bike to the farmers' market? It's a great way to be active and build up an appetite for all of the incredible fresh fruits and vegetables you'll find at the market.
• Is the market too far to walk? You can probably get there by public transportation. Check the "Getting Here" tab on each market page for convenient public transportation directions to get you to the market.

Be green at home too:

• Make your own veggie stock: save your veggie scraps in a bag in the freezer (onion skins, carrot ends, etc). When the bag is full, put the scraps in a pot with water to cover them, and boil for one hour. Strain and enjoy!
• Use your empty strawberry baskets to cover young seedlings in your garden so snails and slugs don’t get them. Or, bring the strawberry baskets back to the farmer: he’ll appreciate it, and you might find your next basket has a few extra berries on top!
• Start a home compost or worm bin for scraps: if you don’t have a garden, find a neighbor who does.