When it comes to waste management, we’d all like to do a little better. Supporting local businesses by shopping at the Frisco Fresh Market is a great way to start. But let’s talk about ways to limit waste on your visit. Many of our vendors offer reusable packaging, so you can return things like egg cartons on your next visit. But that’s just the beginning of ways you can prepare for the most sustainable farmers market trip possible.
1. Produce Bags and Beeswax Wraps
Reusable produce bags are the most important thing you can bring to the farmer’s market since it’s the easiest way to take home all your goodies safely. Produce bags aren’t just a key staple for your visit, they’re the best way to transport most produce safely and without bruising. They come in many sizes, which you can bring along so you don’t worry about losing anything small in an oversized bag. Remember also that bags made from cloth and some from recycled materials can be composted, which means even less waste once the bag has finished its service. And of course, making your own from household textiles is just another way to limit waste at home.
For non-produce delights like cheeses and homemade bread, consider acquiring some reusable beeswax wraps. If you haven’t used them before, they’re a great no-waste way to keep things fresh. You use them like sandwich bags and they come in an array of sizes. In fact, you can probably get some at the farmer’s market. However you find them, they’ll keep your food fresh and look great doing it!
2. Mason Jars or Glass Containers
Meats and fish are a bit harder to manage with a simple cloth bag, and berries will stain. So it’s a good idea to bring some more durable low-waste options. You never know what you’ll find at a farmer’s market, and that’s a large part of the joy around them.
However, part of avoiding waste is knowing how much your household can properly use. Farmers’ market-savvy shoppers can balance their efforts and money between their plans and the delightful surprises that come their way. And of course, you can always leave the glass containers in the car, or your basket, if they don’t come in handy.
3. Baskets and Totes
Carrying around a bunch of produce bags can get tricky, especially when you’re still trying to find the best wares at all the other booths! You should collect them in something safe. Reusable tote bags are widely available and designed for comfortable use, they store easily, and they’re just as low-waste as the bags we discussed above.
Baskets, on the other hand, can look fantastic whether they’re empty or full of goodies. They make getting things home a lot easier, even if they’re more of a struggle to store. Just make sure your totes and baskets have comfortable handles and can handle the weight you’ll be carrying.
4. Composting
When we talk about waste, sometimes we forget how dramatic contemporary waste issues really are. In America, a whopping 40 percent of food goes wasted each year. This is one reason it’s important to take only as much as you need. Remember, you can always return to the farmers market next week for even more freshness.
If you do find kitchen or food waste piling up, the sustainable response is to start composting. You’re in the right place if you’d like to get some advice on how to start, after all: there are gardeners and farmers all around you at the Frisco Farmers Market.
5. Plan Ahead
Of course, the best way to avoid waste is to keep it simple, as we’ve discussed. Get only what you can conceivably use between visits, trusting that if your favorite treat isn’t available next time you’ll find something equally delicious on your trip. One of the great things about the Frisco Farmers Market is that you can select exactly the quantity you need, no more and no less.
But there are other ways you can plan ahead: a great one is to take in the whole market before you start shopping. Once you know what’s available, your choices will narrow and your budget will thrive because you know what you’re there to get, and how much you’re likely to spend.
Another bonus tip for when you’re planning: Think about bringing a cooler if you can. This keeps food fresh longer and increases the likelihood that you’ll use the things you bought, which means less waste on the homefront.
Frisco Fresh Market on Main Helps You Shop and Eat Sustainably
Our pet-friendly Main Street location in Frisco, TX, is open weekends year-round, rain or shine, since 2018. You’ll love our vendors’ fresh harvests and goodies. Chef demonstrations, market music, and family-friendly events make us a great destination to gather, shop, eat, listen, learn, and play!
Contact us to learn more about our upcoming events!