The Truth About People ‘Planting Weeds’ Inside Hudson Valley Stores

It looks like another slang term needs to be added to the dictionary. Have you heard of Hudson Valley shoppers "planting weeds" inside local stores?

With every passing year, more lingo is added to our vocabulary. From worldwide usage of words like rizz (short for charisma) to more local languages like Stewies (short for Stewart's Shops), English has come a long way. But what about "planting weeds"?

"Planting Weeds" in the Hudson Valley, NY

"Planting Weeds" surprisingly has nothing to do with actual plants. Instead, the term is focused on a different type of action that has a similar result: leaving unwanted products in an undesirable place.

What It Means to "Plant a Weed" in a New York Store

While many shoppers have never heard of "planting weeds", nearly all have witnessed (or participated) in the action: a customer "plants a weed" when they place an item in their shopping cart, and later decide the item is no longer needed, and leave it in a random part of the store.

Weeds, weeds everywhere! It makes me angry. Costco should make some policy for thiss type of behaviors. Suspension or something.
byu/ThrottleAway inCostco

Hidden Costs of Customers "Planting Weeds"

Planting weeds is so popular that it's surprising it's taken so long to coin an actual phrase to describe the action. While it's annoying for both customers who may be looking for the same item as well as employees who need to return everything to its rightful place, planting weeds can have even worse consequences.

Which Stores Have the Most "Weeds"?

New York stores like BJ's or Costco, which sell an increasingly large array of products, seem to be hit the hardest. Additionally, when the items left around the stores are perishable, this often means employees will need to throw the food away, leading to massive waste. But which store is worst for this behavior in the Hudson Valley?

Hudson Valley, NY Stores with the Most "Weeds"

An informal poll revealed what many might suspect: the larger the store, the more likely a customer will "plant a weed". Ocean State Job Lot, Target, Marshalls, and Walmart were all named as hotspots in the Hudson Valley, NY. "Haha I call this 'mama said no'", joked another local resident.

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Despite the possibility of food waste, Planting Weeds ranks relatively low on the list of local faux pas. With local drivers risking heavy fines and a dangerous accident every time they use a popular (and illegal) driving technique and Hudson Valley black bears turning into porch pirates, it's always good to keep some perspective.