Berkeley Farmers' Markets Get Greener, Eliminating All Plastic Bags and Packaging -- Celebrate with Them on Earth Day, April 25

By Meredith Brody Mon., Apr. 6 2009 at 4:35 PM

Categories: Brody, Food News / Restaurant Gossip

The thrice-weekly Berkeley Farmers' Markets are now the first in the nation to completely eliminate all plastic bags and packaging. This is part of their "Zero Waste" campaign, recycling and composting all materials generated at the markets.

Customers are encouraged to bring their own cloth and previously used paper and plastic bags to use at the markets, which are on Saturdays from 10 a.m. -- 3 p.m. at Center at Martin Luther King Jr., Tuesdays from 2 p.m. -- 7 p.m. at Derby at Martin Luther King Jr, and the all-organic market on Thursdays from 3 -- 7 p.m. at Shattuck at Rose. Compostable bags are available from vendors for 25 cents each.

On Earth Day on Saturday, April 25, as part of Berkeley's Earth Day Celebration, the Berkeley Farmers' Market Zero Waste Event will feature eco-carnival games, a bag-making workshop, and a raffle, with tickets given to people for each re-usable container or bag they bring in. Raffle prizes include Berkeley Farmers' Market gift certificates, Zero Waste Kits (including cloth bags and stainless steel water bottles), and Ecology Center memberships. (In the zero-time-wasting spirit, you need not be present to win when the raffle prize-winning tickets are drawn at 2:30 p.m.)

Other Berkeley Earth Day festivities, in Civic Center Park at Martin Luther King Jr. at Allston near the Farmers' Market, a block from the downtown Berkeley BART station, from noon -- 5 p.m., include demonstrations of biodiesel and electric cars, solar power, and performances by bands and dance groups.