Shop Green

You don't have to change your life drastically to help out the environment.  It can be as simple as changing what you pick up the next time you're at the grocery store.

Sue Morgan pays a lot of attention to the food she puts in her shopping cart.  In fact she feels so strongly about buying food that is better for the environment, she is a shareholder at the Abundance Cooperative Market in Rochester.  They have a "bulk" food section.  Shoppers like that because they can cut down on waste by avoiding all that extra packaging. 

"My family is really proud to say we only put our garbage can out to the curb once every 2 months and a lot of that is because we just bring in our containers and I've got my little flour bin that I fill over and over and over and over. I've probably filled that thing 500 times," says Morgan.  

They also have a wide selection of organics and many shoppers also prefer to buy local.    "It does mean you have to be a little more conscious about what you're eating. You can't always be expecting to have everything in season, all the time," says Morgan.  
 

Wegmans also tries to buy from local growers whenever possible.   Spokesperson Jo Natale says, "it's what our customers want. They want to support local growers.  They want to buy food that doesn't have to travel as far when there is an option."

Wegmans also started selling organics more than 15 years ago and the costs have come down as demand has risen.  Natale says, "when people are interested in organic, it's primarily because they are concerned about the environment."

Organics produce is grown without the use of chemicals and for some that's also seen as a safer alternative.

"Since I'm a mom of two young kids I of course want them to eat the healthiest food I can find," says Morgan. 

For more information on the Abundance Cooperative Market in Rochester click here.