Obsidian Star





Reusable produce bags are designed to be used for carrying your fruit and veg home from the market, greengrocer or supermarket. They are simply a reusable alternative to the plastic bags the store provides.
 
The produce can be weighed in the bag, with the transparency of the fabric allowing the produce to be seen through the bag for pricing. Easy to use drawstring closure, and available in lots of colours!

The advantages of reusable produce bags are that the produce can "breathe". Have you ever brought the shopping home on a warm day, perhaps unpacked all your cold stuff first and left the veg sitting there a bit, and there is now condensation inside the plastic? That condensation buildup can make your produce go soggy quicker. That doesn't happen with breathable fabric bags.
 
Your produce bags can be used for other things too. Peel your potatoes into the bag, then just turn the bag inside out and give it a shake to throw your peelings into the compost. If you peel your spuds under running water (tisk tisk!) the water will flow through the bag. Use it in the bath to hold kids bath toys. Use it in the laundry to wash delicates that you don't want your washing machine to eat. Use knitted dishcloths? wash them in your produce bags to keep them from getting lost in the laundry.
 
  
 
Environmentally Friendly
Using a reusable bag saves wasting all that plastic each time you go do your grocery shopping. Like many of us use reusable bags to bring home the shopping, these allow you to say no to plastic fruit & veg bags.
 
Breathable
A "breathable" bag means they don't get that steamy condensation buildup on hot days. You can even store your fruit & veg in the fridge in these to keep things tidy.
 
Washable
Not that I imagine washing your produce bags will be high on the list of priorities, but if something has leaked in there, or you've forgotten about those tomatoes you bought 2 months ago sitting decomposing away in the bottom of the fridge (*shudder*)..... then these bags are fully machine washable. Infact they can also double as a "delicates" washing bag (pantyhose etc.). The synthetic versions should not be tumble dried or ironed.
 
Fabrics
They are available in couple of different fabrics.
  • Chiffon - Because of the higher thread count and because they don't stretch, I find that these feel more sturdy, and the drawstrings slide easier than with the net bags. This is personally my preferred option for the bags I use myself
  • Organza - Similar to the chiffon, but more see-through. These can "mark" a bit, where the fibres shift closer together (hard to explain) though they will still work fine. These are a little more delicate as the fabric is more lightweight.
  • Soft Nylon net - This has a slight stretch, so is good for lighter items where you might want the stretch but not much weight (like loose lettuce for example) and it is the lightest bag. I find it feels a little more "flimsy" though.
  • Tulle net - This is stiffer (so the drawstrings don't slide as nicely) but does not stretch so is more sturdy than the stretchy net.
  • Muslin - If you want your bags all natural, I also offer a cotton muslin option with bamboo/cotton drawstring. These muslin bags aren't as see-through as the other versions, but are all natural.

Sizes
I have a few sizes available. By comparison, supermarket plastic produce bags are around 25cm X 40cm. The regular sized bags have been tested to hold a kilo of produce. This equates to about 9-10 oranges. Obviously different produce will fit differently, eg you won't fit many zucchinis in the regular sized bag, but you'd fit a massive lot of beans, but this size should suit most of your shopping needs. Smaller "handful bags" are available for when you want a couple of button mushrooms, a handful of spinach leaves or something like that, and don't want to use the bigger bags. larger bags and "sacks" are occasionally available (if I'm out of stock and you want one, just let me know)
  • "Handful" - These are a great size for a handful of something - nuts, cherries, loose spinach etc. Also a good size for storing your other bags in.
  • "Small" - These vary in size, but are a good size for smaller amounts of produce. A few tomatoes or potatoes etc.
  • "Regular" - Around 25cm X 25cm, and this is the size I make most of the bags in because it is the size I have found to be most useful for us.... as it is big enough to hold a good amount of produce without being too big.
  • "Long" - These also vary a bit in size but are about 10cm longer than the regular bags. These are useful for longer produce or more produce.
  • "Sack" - These are about 42cm x 27cm, and are quite large.... Easily holding a couple of bunches of bananas or several larger items.
Weight
The all important weight factor. As your produce is being weighed in the bag, the weight of the bag will be added to the cost of the produce. Obviously all reusable bags will be heavier than the thin plastic bags you get in the supermarket (which weigh about 4g), but the bags should not add any noticeable cost to your produce, and I have kept the weight down by adding only a single drawstring. The different fabrics have different weights though, so that might be a factor for you to think about. If you buy a $5 a kilo produce, the chiffon bags for example will add approx 4c to the total cost of the produce... (compared to 2c for the plastic bag)... so you may end up paying about 2c extra per bag of produce - but that's a small price to pay for being environmentally friendly! If you use smaller/lighter bags for smaller amounts and more expensive produce, you can minimise the costs.
  • Organza - 25x25cm bag is approx 5g.
  • Soft Stretch Nylon Net - 25x25cm bag is approx 5g.
  • Tulle Net - 25x25cm bag is approx 8g.
  • Chiffon - 25x25cm bag is approx 9g. Long bag is approx 11g
  • Muslin 25x25cm bag is approx 10g.
  • Tulle Net Sack - is approx 11g.

 
Looking after your bags
The nature of these bags is that they are light enough to not add too much weight to your purchase, so a certain amount of 'flimsiness' is to be expected. The Chiffon and tulle net bags feel most "sturdy", which is why I make most of the bags from these fabrics. The "regular" sized chiffon bags have been tested over a kilo in weight, which they held without showing signs of strain. However the bags should not be overfilled as to strain the seams.
 
It is not recommended to carry the filled produce bags by the drawstring, it is instead recommended to hold the bag by the fabric at the top, with your other hand underneath, supporting the weight. They can be washed by hand or machine if needed, and should be washed before first use. The Tulle net bags are stiffer and the drawstring does not slide as freely as with the other bags, but it is recommended to use a gentle force to close the drawstring, to avoid damaging the bag or drawstring.  
 
 


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