RELEASE: Store survey finds majority of fruits, vegetables unnecessarily packaged with plastic

Results show companies can do more to reduce plastic pollution

PORTLAND, Ore. – As proliferating plastic waste threatens our health and environment, the produce industry is covering the natural peels, skins and shells of fruits and vegetables with unnecessary single-use plastic packaging. A new report, Plastic in the Produce Aisle, released on Tuesday by U.S. PIRG Education Fund and Environment America Research & Policy Center, looks into this avoidable situation and offers alternatives.

“Plastic waste is spreading throughout our environment at alarming rates,” said Jonathan Kaplan, policy analyst with U.S. PIRG Education Fund and co-author of the report. “The produce aisle turns out to be a great place to take action on plastic pollution.”

The report is based on a survey looking at the packaging used for 10 types of herbs, fruits and vegetables at 40 grocery stores in five U.S. cities. In those supermarkets, 81% of the surveyed produce was sold with plastic packaging including “clamshell” containers, mesh bags, film, trays and twist-ties. Only 12% of surveyed produce came with no plastic. 

The survey also looked at the “plastic intensity,” or the amount of plastic used, in the packaging options provided for the 10 types of fresh fruits and vegetables. Researchers found that four of the top five largest grocers by market share — Walmart, Kroger, Costco and Amazon – were among the top five most plastic-intensive retailers in the survey.

“No one is top banana when it comes to providing produce without plastic packaging,” said Celeste Meiffren-Swango, Beyond Plastic campaign director with Environment America Research & Policy Center. “The grocery industry is ripe for improvement in reducing unnecessary plastic packaging, especially for fresh fruits and vegetables. There’s no reason for grocers to use so much plastic.”  

Surveyors found many plastic-free packaging options already on the market for nine out of the 10 produce types. 

“Getting rid of unnecessary plastic in the produce aisle really is low-hanging fruit,” said Lisa Frank, executive director of Environment America Research & Policy Center. “Many grocery chains already have plastic-free options available, so we know it’s possible. We’re asking stores to take the next step by eliminating all unnecessary plastic packaging for fresh produce.”

The survey took place in the fall and winter of 2025-2026. Researchers surveyed the packaging for common herbs, fruits and vegetables including basil, broccoli, carrots, cherry tomatoes, lemons, portobello mushrooms, romaine lettuce, spinach, strawberries and sweet potatoes.

The report makes a number of recommendations:

• Businesses should rapidly expand the plastic-free or less plastic-intensive packaging solutions that have already been demonstrated in many stores across the country.
• Policymakers should expand existing plastic grocery bag bans to more states – and include produce bags in those bans.   
• Consumers should play their part by choosing fruits and vegetables that are not packaged in plastic, bringing their own reusable bags to the store, and avoiding using unnecessary plastic bags offered in the produce aisle.