Dunedin Curtain Bank manager Tess Trotter said those behind the farmers market offered the curtain bank the opportunity to help reduce plastic waste by sewing reusable produce bags to be given out at the market.
Using recycled net curtains, yesterday volunteers worked around the clock to make as many of the bags as possible.
Otago Farmers Market trustees have made bags themselves but the demand was huge so they required extra help.
The farmers market needed ''a lot'' of the mesh bags for its fruit and vegetables, particularly as it heads into summer.
Ms Trotter hoped to get about 200 bags made initially.
''This is a pilot day to see what we can achieve in a day.''
Using recycled materials was a ''win-win'' for everyone involved in the project.
The collaboration between the curtain bank and the farmers market was a ''no-brainer''.
It was something different and creative for the volunteers at the curtain bank to work on than their regular activities.
Although the bags will be given away at the farmers market, the idea was for market-goers to return and keep re-using them.
She wanted to continue working with the market to make more bags in the future.
Otago Farmers Market manager Kate Vercoe said they were committed to supporting the market's vendors and shoppers to reduce the use of plastic bags in the market.
Both Countdown and New World recently announced they would eventually phase out the use of plastic shopping bags at their stores.
