Printed takeout bags for El Monte, from Main Street to the San Gabriel Valley.

Main Street after dark

From March through October, the El Monte farmers market takes over Main Street between Santa Anita and Tyler on Thursday evenings, 5 to 9 p.m. Food stalls, produce and a crowd that came to eat and walk.

That's four hours of people carrying food down one street. If your stall hands out plain bags, you're feeding people and getting nothing back. A printed bag gets noticed by the next person in line and the one after that.

Sidewalk vending, done by the rules

El Monte lets sidewalk food vendors work with a Los Angeles County mobile food permit. Vendors keep 48 inches of sidewalk clear and stay 15 feet from crosswalks, bus stops, driveways and outdoor dining. In non-residential areas, vending runs from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Those rules mean your setup is small and your space is tight. The bag is one of the few places you can show your brand. Make it count.

Grilled, saucy and heavy

San Gabriel Valley food travels in combos: skewers and rice, tacos with three salsas, noodles with a soup on the side, boba riding along. Our bag carries up to 22 lb, has a square bottom that keeps containers level, and flat paper handles taped inside so the top doesn't rip.

For stall owners, the night market vendor guide covers how to pack fast during a long line.

A logo that reads under string lights

At night, thin lines and dark colors disappear. Go bold: thick letters, high contrast, one bright color like orange, yellow or lime on brown kraft. Or use white kraft for a dark logo.

Your print area is 12 × 14 in on the front, printed free. For the full guide across the county, see printed takeout bags for Los Angeles restaurants.