Sustainability Tidbits
added 05/01/08
New in Produce: Reusable Delivery Totes for Local Produce Growers
How does fresh produce get to the grocer? In a box. Merchandising and Operations Director Tony White has been giving a lot of thought recently to just what kind of box that is.
At present, most local growers use wax-coated cardboard boxes to deliver their product to the Co-op. These boxes cost the grower upwards of 75 cents each. The Co-op makes an effort to return these boxes to the growers for reuse; even then the boxes only hold up for two to three uses total. When their useful life is over, they can’t be recycled, but must be thrown in the trash. Tony felt that the Co-op could do better—for the environment and for the growers’ bottom line. So, he proposed substituting plastic crates for the boxes.
The idea of plastic crates came out of the Co-op’s Annual Growers Meeting, where local produce farmers sit down with Co-op staff to iron out logistics for the coming year. Tony hopes that the crates will be in use by the time local fruit and vegetable harvests start to take off in May.
Close the Loop: Bring Back Your EcoPak Containers
Have you ever noticed the “EcoPak” stamp on the clear plastic containers you bring home from the Prepared Foods and Bulk departments? That stamp tells you that the container is made of 50 percent post-consumer recycled plastic. You can’t recycle these containers at curbside, but you can return them to the Co-op and close the loop! Just drop your clean containers into the collection box near the checkout in either store.
Co-op Packaging Turns a Shade Greener
The new take-out boxes in our prepared foods departments are made of 100 percent recycled fiber (minimum 35 percent post consumer). The tan color means they are unbleached. These containers are the only packaging product to have received the Green Restaurant Association’s endorsement.
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The Dietitian is in!
Co-op Dietitian and Food and Nutrition Educator Mary Saucier Choate, M.S., R.D., L.D., helps Co-op customers find easy ways to meet their health and nutrition goals. For shoppers wanting to start eating more healthfully, Mary has created the popular Better Eating for Life program, a friendly step-by-step guide to improving your food choices. To get started, look here. Mary also has been known to wear odd food-related costumes and play in a bluegrass band. Takes all types.
Want Great Produce?
If the Co-op is famous for anything, it’s for our Produce Departments. This is where you’ll find everything from that perfect Florida or California orange to the best products from local growers all over the area. The people who work here know what they’re doing, too. The jobs are competitive, and the staff members are proud of their careers. Come visit us, ask our employees for their expertise, and take advantage of having access to the best Produce Department in the Upper Valley.
