Reusable Grocery Bags - Rogers,MN

I got some from Byerly's for $1.50 each, they hold more than a normal grocery bag, and like the other gal said about the ones from Lunds, they fold and snap to the size of a cd case. I got one at Cub, bigger, heavier, $3.50. I also have some that were given away at some expos. I think the living green expo just went on last month at the fairgrounds, but I could be wrong.

You can always try www.reusablebags.com. They have a huge variety of grocery bags, alternatives to plastic produce bags, alternatives to paper lunch bags, ziploc bags, saran wrap...

Their products range from inexpensive to spendy, but there's a huge range & variety of products.

Also, you can get nice canvas bags at Trader Joe's for about $1.99, I think. I have a couple of those & they're great! Also, you can get some nice bags at Whole Foods, but I'm not sure how much they are. I got a couple of theirs for free at the Food & Wine Experience.

Good luck!
J.
(mom to Chase - 3)

You can find inexpensive canvas bags through Lillian Vernon catalog or www.lillianvernon.com. For large items and trips to Costco I like Ikea bags. They are plastic but strong, last a long time and are really cheap.

My husband just bought two bags at Lunds for $3 each. They are very roomy, but neatly fold down to about the size of a CD case. I also have a canvas one from Lakewinds that I use for everything BUT groceries. It works fine, but I just can't seem to remember to leave it in my car.

Some friends & I bought the ACME Workhorse 1500 from reusablebags.com. We all absolutely love them. They hold a good deal of weight and are made of a high quality tent-like material. The best part is they fold into a little bag (2inches x 3 inches)that's stitched on the inside, so they fit in your purse or you can keep them in the car without taking up any room. They cost a little more, but I think the quality is worth it. Plus, most grocery stores give you a 'bring your own bag' credit for each bag you bring in (I think it's around 5 cents per bag)

I have a collection of about 10 bags, many of which I picked up at thrift stores or yard sales. The ones made specifically for groceries are nice, but any heavy-duty/canvas bag will do. You can find new ones at natural grocery stores, they will likely be excellent quality, but they will cost you. Many of my second-hand smaller-sized tote bags which work well for loading up with cans and other heavy items. I have one extra-large size bag which is great for loading up with boxes of cereal and other large, light things. Skip the string bags because they get holes too easily, and I haven't met a bagger yet who doesn't try to load them up with cans and boxes instead of bread and bags of chips. I agree with the other response that long handles that go over your shoulder are the best/most convenient.

No matter what kinds of bags you have, you will still have to watch the bagger at the grocery store like a hawk to make sure they don't underfill the bags or overfill the big bags with heavy stuff. In my experience, reusable bags seem to 'throw baggers off' and all sense of reason and logic suddenly escapes them. They will put 20 heavy cans in your largest bag, one big box of cereal in your smallest, or fill them all way below capacity ... then, figuring you have just saved the planet anyway, end up finishing the job by using one plastic bag per item! I swear, in all my years of reusable bag use, these things happen more often than not - so you will have to hover and direct them at the risk coming across as anal and obsessive. Still, good for you and good luck!

I've been using canvas tote bags for groceries for a while now. They are bigger, stronger, have great handles, and often I can carry a full shopping load into the house on one trip because I can hang them over my shoulders and carry 5 bags at a time.
I got a bunch free at some Labor fest I went to at the Midwest Center a few years ago. They all have union logos on them. I would like to get a couple more myself but haven't really looked yet. I would start at American Science & Surplus or Michaels.

Bravo! I wish more people were using canvas bags - I think they're great, and if more folks use them, maybe the baggers will stop giving me funny looks. =)

If you ever go to Lakewinds or Valley Natural Foods, they sell them there.

If you or any friends ever go to conferences for your jobs, you might want to check out the giveaways at the booths - a lot of them give out bags because the attendees are loaded down with papers, etc.

It's over for this year, but the Living Green Expo is also a great place to find good bags (and lots of other good stuff): http://www.livinggreen.org/ (admission is free).

There are three things I'd recommend checking out before you buy or take a bag. They'll make a big difference in how much you like shopping with a canvas bag:

1) The mouth of the bag should be as wide as possible - ideally, the bag should be wider at the top than the bottom.

2) The bag should be at least 2'x2' The small bags just won't hold enough. Your bag should be able to hold at least two full size cereal boxes.

3) Try slinging the bag over your shoulder - the straps on the bag should be big enough that it doesn't pinch when you carry it this way.

As an added idea, there's a great local company that makes fabulous drawstring bags you can use for produce. I really love them, and I get lots of compliments on them when I use them to shop. They're called BYO Bags and they're by the local company Cool Hats: http://www.coolhats.biz/byobags/BYObags.html