Dari Mart becomes the first convenience store in Oregon to offer reusable bags

Between January 15 and February 15, Dari Mart will donate all proceeds from its new "grab•n go green" reusable bag sales to Food for Lane County.

"If every customer who comes in on an average day bought a bag, we could raise $14,000 to provide food for those most in need," said Kathy Gibson, operations manager.

Dari Mart will phase out the approximate 1.4 million plastic bags it uses each year with the introduction of reusable bags. Earth-friendly paper sacks will also be available when plastic bags are eliminated. Dari Mart is the first convenience store in Oregon to offer customers reusable bags.

"They're sized right at 9" x 13", and they're perfect for on-the-go shoppers who are picking up a few items," Gibson said. "They're also very affordable at just 50¢."

Locally owned and operated by the Gibson family for almost 45 years, Dari Mart is always looking for ways to decrease its impact on the environment.

"We're reviewing all of our operations to increase our sustainability," Gibson said. "We'll also have come-back mugs as a choice for customers."

More about Dari Mart's sustainability efforts...

The family's Lochmead Farms milk travels just four short miles from our dairy to the dairy in Junction City. From there, milk and ice cream are trucked less than 60 miles to reach Dari Mart stores. Additionally, 25 percent of its fresh milk is sold in reusable bottles.

The family raises 80 percent of its cows' feed on its farm, which lessens the use of fossil fuels. It is also installing a methane digester at the farm to capture gas and turn it into electricity.

Dari Mart's next project will be to replace lights in its coolers with more energy efficient LED bulbs.

"Our family is proud of our sustainability efforts. These reusable bags will be a real convenience for customers. Plus, by donating the proceeds from the bags, our customers will be helping others in the community. That's a real win-win," Gibson said.

About Dari Mart

The first Dari Mart opened in 1965, and today there are 43 stores from Albany to Cottage Grove. These small, neighborhood stores employ more than 500 people. Gladys and Howard Gibson settled on a 120-acre farm west of Junction City in 1941 and started Lochmead Farms. Today the dairy has some 1,200 Holstein cows. Four of their children oversee all aspects of Lochmead and Dari Mart operations, and seven grandchildren also work in the business.