The Vista Farmers Market has moved well beyond plastic packaging for over 90 percent of our items.  Markets that call themselves “Zero Plastic” seem only to have substituted the lie of “compostable” plastics for normal plastics.  We are the most Plastic-Free farmers market in the United States.

Here’s the link to the Earth 8 story about the Vista Farmers Market: https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/outreach/earth8/vista-farmers-market-remove-80-of-plastic-packaging/509-c5aada38-cebd-4bfd-9c54-91ad46ce0dc0

Here is what has been eliminated so far, at the request of 81 percent of our customers:

plastic bags of all types — plastic water bottles  —  plastic beverage bottles

plastic straws  —  plastic cups – all sizes  —  styrofoam/blown foam containers of all kinds and sizes

plastic plates and bowls  —  plastic wrap  —  plastic utensils

plastic clamshells of all sizes and types  —  cellophane (including windows in boxes or bags)

plastic flower sleeves  —  plastic berry baskets  —  plastic mesh bags of any kind

plastic containers of all types  —  all plastic packaging except those under the current exemptions.

Current Exemptions

Items that can be packaging in plastic, for now, are:

meat and fish —  frozen items  —  pressure-pasteurized foods

vacuum-packed foods  —  gluten-free pasta  —  hand-formed soft cheese

all types of chips —  gluten-free, frozen breads  —  sliced bread

lids (IF no good alternative is available)

We intend to remove all possible plastic packaging from items in the market.

No Type of Plastic is Allowed 

(as a plastic alternative).  No biodegradable, bio-plastic, compostable plastics are allowed.  NO plastic of any kind.

compostable plastic   

isn’t

it isn’t compostable at home

it isn’t compostable in the green bins

it isn’t even recyclable in the recycle bin

Want more?

it is technically compostable by a United Nations definition

-they couldn’t get it passed in the U.S.- pushed through by the oil industry

(but only at a factory that “composts” plastic.  Nearest one?     In Seattle.)  And California is considering disallowing them to be called “compostable”.

Don’t fall for it.

It’s a chance to sell plastic, at a higher price, by lying to you.