I first saw the idea of using reusable fruit & veg bags on the Aussies Living Simply forum. What A cool idea!
I was a little worried that the checkout people would want to call the manager down to yell at me for daring to bring my own bags, but much to my surprise they rarely seem to notice! (perhaps it's not uncommon where I live?) The few times I have had anyone comment, it has been positive.
They are simply a reusable alternative to the plastic bags the store provides. When buying your fruit & veg, use one of these bags, which are light (so won't add much to the cost of the produce) and the checkout attendant can easily see into them to see what is inside.
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
Well, no, your fruit & veg aren't going to suffocate in a plastic bag like a person would.... but a breathable bag means they don't get that steamy condensation buildup on hot days (or if you are like me and tend to forget to put them in the fridge straight away and they sit around for a while). You can even store your fruit & veg in the fridge in these.
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.
Funky & Durable
There are other reusable produce bags around, many cheaper....but most of them are plain white.... While white is good, don't get me wrong.... colours are fun! So I've tried to make sure I have a lot of fun colourful produce bags. Or even black, if colours aren't your thing. Where some produce bags are sewn with just one line of stitching, my produce bags are overlocked and/or double stitched to help make them more durable. Having said that - 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 bags feel most "sturdy" which is why I make most of the bags from chiffon. The 25cm bags have been tested with around 2 kilos in weight, which they held without showing signs of strain.
Fabrics
I use a 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. My second favourite bags.
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 my personal preference for bags because they are more transparent and lighter.
Nylon net - This has a slight stretch, so is good for lighter items where you might want the stretch (like loose lettuce for example) and it is the lightest bag. I find it feels a little more "flimsy" though.
Tulle net - I also have "Sack" bags made from "tulle" netting... which is stiffer (so the drawstrings don't slide as nicely) but does not stretch so is a little 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
"Handful" - These are a great size for a handful of something - nuts, cherries, loose lettuce 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.
"Large" - These also vary a bit in size but are about twice as long as 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.
Weights
The all important weight factor. Obviously all reusable bags will be heavier than the thin plastic bags you get in the supermarket. The different fabrics have different weights. If you buy a $4 a kilo produce, the 10g bags will add approx 4c to the total cost of the produce... that's the cost of being environmentally friendly ;) But if you use smaller bags for smaller amounts, and the finer bags for more expensive produce, you can minimise the costs.
Organza - 25x25cm bag is approx 5g.
Nylon Net - 25x25cm bag is approx 5g.
Chiffon - 25x25cm bag is approx 9g. Long bag is approx 11g
