Finding Packaging-Free Bulk Foods in West LA

I watched an awesome video that completely opened my mind, about how you can live in a city and produce no waste! I didn't think this was possible, living in the US, where people generally have a consumer mindset and live in a system that produces so much waste.

Lauren Singer, aka. Zero Waste Girl and blogger for Trash is For Tossers creates a mason jar full of trash in a single year. I feel really inspired and as a first step, I will be setting out to find bulk sources for most of our foodstuffs.

Finding Packaging-Free Bulk Foods in West LA

Living in West Los Angeles, close to Santa Monica, it seems that my grocery options to try are:

1. Farmers Markets
   The obvious choise for locally-grown produce. If you're also looking to buy organic, here's a tip: a lot of it is organic, but small producers don't want to pay the hefty fee for getting it certified. So ask the question, "Do you use any pesticides or herbicides?" instead of asking, "Is it organic?"
2. Whole Foods Market
   A great place to find dry foodstuffs, such as grains, nuts, flour, sugar, beans, cereal, spices, etc.
3. Sprouts Farmers Market
   Also a great place to find dry foodstuffs and organic produce.
4. Rainbow Acres Natural Foods
   I'd never been here but supposedly they sell extra virgin olive oil in bulk. If you don't live in this area and are looking for a source for bulk oil, try searching on Yelp for food coop or bulk oil.
5. Co-opportunity
   Supposedly more expensive than Whole Foods, but no harm in checking it out.
6. Payless International Market
   Cheapest produce, good selection of organic produce, too, but would need to use that same night.
7. Dumpster diving
   I haven't tried this and I wouldn't make this a habit, as you never know what you'll get. But I would like to try it someday!
   

There are tons more tips on the blog Zero Waste Home. I will try to implement one tip each week. For example, next, I will need to find reusable cloth bags to put my bulk items in.