For the fifteenth interview, I have the pleasure of introducing you to Sally Erickson, CEO/Founder of Vejibag – 100% US Organic Cotton Cloth Produce Storage Bags
This is what it says on the first results line on “Google” when I typed in the word Vejibag
“Vejibag: Cloth Produce Storage: Fresh Vegetables for a Week or More
Safer for you. Safer for the planet. Grown and milled right here in the U.S. As green as it gets. Vejibag: The Volvo of vegetable storage.”
My comments:
I found this company on Amazon and contacted them via email to do a review of the products. Here is some of what was discussed in the emails between myself and Sally, the CEO/Founder of Vejibag.
Sally said:
We’ll be happy to send you a Vejibag to review. They do currently come in two sizes, Vejibag and VejiBIG. We are in the process of slightly changing the sizes so I’m sending you the wider-opening Vejibag rather than the VejiBIGs which we have not changed yet. We are also about to introduce the VejiCHEF which is MUCH bigger.
I said:
When is the newest bag, VejiCHEF, going to be launched? If you have it already to send me, I could be the first to do a review of that one.
Sally said:
You can be the first with the VejiCHEF…but they all work the same, just different sizes.
I’ll send you the new Vejibag, the old VejiBIG, and the new VejiCHEF. The only difference in the VejiBIG is that the opening will be larger…the same as the new Vejibag. We are extremely busy with another project right now so we have not announced the new versions or the new VejiCHEF yet but can do so in the next few weeks.
I think you’ll find Vejibags work really well, especially with very fresh vegetables. I did notice when traveling that the “Washed 3 X” greens that I have not personally bought before are actually damaged in the washing process and so do not do nearly as well as fresh farmer’s market greens or even whole heads of lettuce….You may also be interested in looking at our reviews on both Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Vejibag-OCV-1-Organic-Cotton-Single/dp/B00CZDKZE6/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?ie=UTF8&m=A2IICNGB3RV8XM and our website: http://vejibag.com/reviews/
I said:
What I would like to do, is a side by side comparison of produce in the Vejibag, in plastic bags and in the BioBag compostable bags – so I would leave them in each for a period of ? days. How many days would you say to have the produce in the different types of bags where you would see a difference?
Sally said:
I would say for most things you will see a REMARKABLE difference in 7-10 days, depending on the vegetable and the condition it was in when it was purchased. Greens are ESPECIALLY much happier in Vejibags than any sort of plastic. You DO have to keep the Vejibag slightly damp during storage which
means a second or two under the faucet a couple of times a week depending on how humid or dry your fridge is. What would show the greatest difference would be washed (but not spun) salad greens in a Vejibag as opposed to plastic. Broccoli, carrots, celery….lots of things thrive in Vejibags but
languish or get slimy in plastic bags.
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Question #1: Tell me briefly about yourself and why you decided to get involved in the “health” industry?
Three things. I’m 62. I’ve been cleaning up my diet over the last 20 years and noticed what a change in my life that has made. Second, I live in a tiny town in Maine where there is a lack of good work, especially winter-time work so I wanted to start something to give women the opportunity to do good work, to work at home, and to make a good hourly rate. Three, there is a huge waste of high quality, organic vegetables because people don’t have a way to keep them fresh. So there was a need for Vejibags and I saw that we could make something that was organic and supported local economy here and in other small communities (Texas organic cotton growers, NC cotton mills). So we started this local cottage industry that lines up with all of my values of health, fairness, and supporting local economy.
Question #2: If you were stranded on a desert island and were allowed to take only 5 items with you (they can be food, books or specific products that are all health-related), what would they be and why?
1) A water filter. After oxygen, clean water seems to be the next most important thing for my health.
2) A knife. Very useful tool for food preparation and shelter building.
3) Matches. Would be necessary for signal fire building and staying warm.
4) Rope. Really helpful for all kinds of things from building shelter to drying clothes in case of rain.
5) Edible plant identification book… so I could gather food.
Question #3: What one message do you want to share with the people of this world that is crucial for their ultimate well-being and longevity?
My experience is that getting the basics right, clean and high nutrition food and water, sufficient restful sleep, and time to engage with people I love, including myself, are way more important than accumulating a lot of stuff and spending most of my waking hours working at something I don’t like or believe in so that I can have that “stuff.” Health affects EVERYTHING. If I’m healthy it is much easier to be joyful, loving, contributing. If I’m NOT healthy everything is challenged.
Questions #4: If someone could afford to purchase only one product at this moment to start their journey towards better health (food or health-related), what would you recommend and why?
I would say organic vegetables from a local farmer. They are real, clean, fresh food.
Question #5: Tell me more about your business/company and/or products you offer to the public to help them achieve optimal health and well-being?
Vejibags are 100% US-grown Organic cotton that keep greens and other vegetables fresh and crisp and edible. They make shopping once a week for vegetables a joy because you can buy enough vegetables for the week without being afraid of having to throw them out because they got slimy. And they are a product that is completely non-toxic from start to finish, have a low carbon footprint, support local economy, and are made with love by women in their own homes! And they are beautiful.
I am also offering a special discount of 25% off to your readers for 1 week only on all Vejibags – between June 24th and June 30th 2014 and will expires at midnight. You must use the coupon code: “MINDY” at checkout.
Question #6: What are your hopes/aspirations/dreams for the future health of the people and the planet?
I think we are likely going to go through a dark time as the planet rebalances systems that have been completely unbalanced. Going into such a time I dream of a core of wise, healthy, compassionate people being able to help their family and friends get back to the basics and learn the simple pleasures of caring for one another and helping the process of re-balancing and actually thriving as a result, thriving through the challenge, learning to tune in to wisdom, realizing that we are wondrous beings, loved and worthy.
Question #7: Who is your greatest hero and why?
I don’t really have one greatest hero but right now I really appreciate Brene Brown because she is a researcher who is speaking about healing shame through vulnerability and I think she’s wonderful.
Question #8: Is there anything else you would like to share with the public?
Take the healing journey step by step but don’t stop. Health problems are rarely caused by a single factor. Clean up one area of your diet and lifestyle and then build on that to clean up another. Things you never thought you could change or let go of you find out were actually not that big a deal. Listen to your inner wisdom and be kind to yourself in real ways…like by taking time to relax and enjoy healthy pleasures like walking in nature, listening to the birds in the morning, looking at the stars at night.
Also check out my youtube channel for a video review of all their products: http://www.youtube.com/TheRawsomeVeganGal
To find out more about their products and to order, go to: http://www.vejibag.com
Don’t forget about the special discount offer for one week only June 24 through June 30, listed above!
Original Vejibag – 100% US Organic Cotton Cloth Produce Storage Bag –
It is double the size in width then shown in the photo, as it is folded in half.
Comes in 2 other sizes: VejiBIG and VejiCHEF
My r-Awesome Life 