Proctor Farmers' Market Green Initiatives
The Proctor Farmers' Market strives to provide the community with fresh, locally grown farm products while providing area growers with a venue for their crops and products. In addition we seek to educate the public about the importance of local agriculture, sustainable business and the impact we have on the environment.
See below how we are working to make the Market more sustainable, by incorporating Green Initiatives.
See below how we are working to make the Market more sustainable, by incorporating Green Initiatives.
Proctor Farmers' Market & Sustainability: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose
“The earth is what we all have in common.”
Naturalist and writer, Wendell Berry
Naturalist and writer, Wendell Berry
Farmers Markets Promote Sustainability
Zestful Gardens, Tacoma, WA
Farmers selling at markets minimize the amount of waste and pollution they create:
•Many markets sell organically labeled products, and many more sell chemical or pesticide-free labeled products.
•A 2015 survey of farmers selling at farmers markets showed that one in four farmers selling at farmers markets cultivate land that is protected from commercial development.
•Locally or regionally grown sourced produce travels about 27 times less distance than conventionally sourced produce.
•Four out of five discuss farming practices with their customers, educating them about farming and its interaction with the natural environment.
Source information - click on: Farmers Market Coalition
•Many markets sell organically labeled products, and many more sell chemical or pesticide-free labeled products.
•A 2015 survey of farmers selling at farmers markets showed that one in four farmers selling at farmers markets cultivate land that is protected from commercial development.
•Locally or regionally grown sourced produce travels about 27 times less distance than conventionally sourced produce.
•Four out of five discuss farming practices with their customers, educating them about farming and its interaction with the natural environment.
Source information - click on: Farmers Market Coalition
Washington's Single Use Plastic Bag Ban
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As of Oct 1. 2021 Vendors must comply with the new ‘Washington’s Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban” The Market supports the ban with compliance, online education, and sale of reusable totes in the Market Info Booth.
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Remember to 'Bring Your Own Bag' wherever you shop!
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Proctor Farmers' Market - Food Banks
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The Market supports a year-round "Sustainable Management of Food' program which not only feeds people, but reduces food waste, and ultimately landfill waste.
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Proctor Farmers' Market - Vinyl Banner Repurposing
- Used Market vinyl advertising banners are delivered to Tinkertopia, a Tacoma 'Creative Reuse Center,' and made into totes, games, and other creative items.
- The environmental advantages of repurposing vinyl banners are: *
- Energy Reduction - eliminates the need to make materials from scratch.
- Reduces solid waste, as less trash is going to landfills.
- Reduces our Carbon Footprint - when Tinkertopia reuses our materials.
- Reduces the use of virgin materials - the items created at Tinkertopia, can be upcycled when no longer in use, reducing use of new materials.
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Proctor Farmers' Market - Recycling & Solid Waste
One of the many ways the Market helps to reduce waste in landfills is by sorting solid waste as per the City of Tacoma’s current program.
Below are some steps we take to dispose of garbage, recycling, and food waste generated by the Market:
Below are some steps we take to dispose of garbage, recycling, and food waste generated by the Market:
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Step 1 - Customers dispose of waste in one of three clearly marked 'Zero Waste' receptacles found throughout the Marketplace:
Signage clearly describes what can be disposed of in each bin (shown below):
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Step 2 - Market waste is then emptied into appropriate containers by staff for commercial disposal:
City of Tacoma: Vegetable/plant waste (from Vendors): Brown Bin Trash: Green Bin Recycling: Blue Bin 
City of Tacoma 'Brown Waste,'Trash,' and 'Recycling' Bins
Step 3 - Cedar Grove:
All "Compost Only' food waste and compostable food container waste is emptied into a specially marked bin and collected by Cedar Grove, and then processed into compost rather than disposed of as trash and shipped to landfills. 
Cedar Grove Bin
Additional Resources:
photo from: City of Tacoma's "Preventing Food Waste"
City of Tacoma: Preventing Food Waste
City of Tacoma: BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) - (no thin, plastic checkout bags as of July 12, 2017). Farmers Market Coalition: Farmers Markets Promote Sustainability |
Proctor Farmers' Market - Repair, Reuse
The Market utilizes a great many items, with working parts, that need constant repair.
We try to repair before we replace. Items beyond repair are then recycled where or when appropriate.
Jack Sommer does double duty as both our bookkeeper and repair person who can fix almost anything.
We try to repair before we replace. Items beyond repair are then recycled where or when appropriate.
Jack Sommer does double duty as both our bookkeeper and repair person who can fix almost anything.
Jack Sommer
Proctor Farmers' Market - Saving Resources
By maximizing the use of the Market’s resources to process vendor applications, deliver vendor checks via direct deposit, and email targeted digital marketing flyers, we work to save trees, cut down on the use of fossil fuels, and help the environment and atmosphere:
•MarketWurks Online Vendor Application
•Direct Deposit of Vendor Checks
•MarketWurks Online Vendor Application
•Direct Deposit of Vendor Checks
Online Vendor Application
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Direct Deposit of Vendor Checks
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