Reducing the carbon footprint:what our farmers’ markets are doing to help.

There is a growing concern about the global increase of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Reducing the human “carbon footprint” is being addressed in many ways, for example reducing energy use, seeking alternate sources of energy, recycling, and using reusable products.

So what can a farmers’ market organization do? There are two important steps we can take. One is to promote the reuse of bags, and the second is to encourage shopping at farmers’ markets.

Comparing grocery stores and farmers markets
with respect to the amount of energy required to get food from farm to table

Grocery stores Most produce is trucked and/or flown from farms to processing facilities, then to central distribution warehouses, and finally to individual grocery stores like Vons, Trader Joes, and Albertsons. Produce sold at grocery stores is grown in California, Arizona, Washington, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and other states and countries. Consequently, the distance produce travels from a farm to a grocery store is commonly greater than 500 miles and in many cases greater than a 1000 miles.

Other factors that use energy are special packaging required for long distance transport, and refrigeration during transit, at distribution warehouses and while at the grocery store.

Farmers’ markets

Products at our farmers’ markets come directly from family operated small farms. While a few of our growers’ farms are as far away as Fresno (about 130 miles), most are between Paso Robles and Santa Maria (within 30 miles). Clearly, the average miles food travels (amount of carbon dioxide generated from fossil fuel) to get to farmers’ markets is far less than for a grocery store. Our farmers do not need refrigeration, and reuse their transport containers. Clearly, one way to reduce the carbon footprint is to shop at farmers’ markets.

Reusing bags is another way

Since it takes energy and raw materials to manufacture bags, bag reuse can be significant. One way is to use “reusable bags”, and the other is to reuse paper and plastic bags. Resuable bags are available at all five of our markets..

Ways to reuse plastic and paper bags

Reuse plastic bags

Long time farmers’ market shopper Sue Sunderland has a great way. She used a dish towel to make this cloth tube. Put empty plastic bags in at one end, and when needed, pull one out at the other end. Just before leaving to the market, take out what you need, or take the tube with you. What a convenient way to store plastic bags until the next farmers’ market. The tubes are easy to make. Use a cloth of any size, and simply sew in elastic at the top bottom. Then sew a seam to make the tube. You’re done!

Reuse paper bags.

These can be folded, and taken with you the next time you go to market. The trick is to remember to take them with you to the market. As with plastic bags, paper bags can be used as trash liners, and damaged ones can be put in recycling container.