Where do you get your bulk foods?

[BelleWithBoots]

I would love to find a local co op or somewhere to get bulk foods for a good price. is there a good way to locate these?

[beegrowing]

found Bread Beckers online and Atlanta places mentioned. Google-- "bulk grains" west Georgia-- and a 2006 thread from Here comes up with recos!!!

[7thswan]

We have a Mennonite store near us. Maybe you can search for that in your area.

[FakeMountainMan]

Google 'find local co-op' and several co-op associations come up. Our co-op has been pretty good for getting organic produce and other items that we can't find easily in our area.

I just received a huge catalog from Azure Standard... I haven't ordered anything (yet?) but they seem to have EVERYTHING one could ever want. Wow.

[mekasmom]

If you post the general area you are in, perhaps someone who is from your area can give you an idea of something within driving range. We live near the IL/MO border, and there is a store within driving distance that sells bulk called DOTs. I'm sure most places have something that sells bulk within driving distance of the area. I know there is also a place near St. Louis here, but I don't like driving there.

[sniper69]

Honeyville sells food in bulk and has shipping for an entire order under $5. Plus until 12/3 they have 20% off (coupon code is on the website). http://shop.honeyville.com/

Also if looking for food for storage, walmart has augason farms wheat (and some other items) for sale already packaged in pails - walmarts price is better than the augason farms website and the items are drop shipped directly from augason farms.

IF there is an LDS home storage center close to where you live, you can call and find out how to place an order, when to pickup, etc http://providentliving.org/self-reli...tions?lang=eng is a list of the LDS home storage centers, and on the right side of that page is an order form, or to make it easier - the link to where the pdf of the order form is at http://providentliving.org/self-reli...-form?lang=eng
Also some items can be purchased online and shipped to your home - http://store.lds.org/webapp/wcs/stor...7_-1_Y_image_0 The centers have more selection though.

Some items can be found on Amazon (I've found some organic items this way). But then it pays to shop for the best price.

Hope this helps.

[1shotwade]

Originally Posted by mekasmom

If you post the general area you are in, perhaps someone who is from your area can give you an idea of something within driving range. We live near the IL/MO border, and there is a store within driving distance that sells bulk called DOTs. I'm sure most places have something that sells bulk within driving distance of the area. I know there is also a place near St. Louis here, but I don't like driving there.

I'm just curious,is that a coop or franchise or something? I've got one just down the road and it's the only one I've ever heard of.

Wade

[ET1 SS]

We have a lot of Farmer's Markets around here, new markets open every year. So we can buy a lot of stuff in season through-out the season.

A few years ago, I searched online and I found a bunch of grain dealers. I called each of them and asked about what was being grown in each of their counties. That got me a list of farmers. When I called each of them, in every case, the farm wife answered, and we got into a conversation about what crops each of her neighbors was growing year. I was trying to locate: corn, barley and oats. It worked.

I found there is a community of farms that produce corn in the county West of me. Two counties North is a great source for barley, and on the Eastern edge of my county is a good source for my oats.

The best deal I have found for bulk is to call the farmer a month before harvest, and see if he has an idea of when he will be harvesting. Try to show up then. These guys will bag you up as many 50-pound sacks of grain as you want. I pay from $6 to as high as $8 per 50-pounds of grain [corn, barley, oats]. I generally buy either 40 or 80 sacks at a time, of each grain.

If you miss that window, then the grain goes to a grain dealer, where the price may double.

[mekasmom]

Originally Posted by 1shotwade

I'm just curious,is that a coop or franchise or something? I've got one just down the road and it's the only one I've ever heard of.

Wade

DOT foods is a restaurant supply store. You can go there and purchase items from their warehouse. I get rice in 25lb bags and other things there. The roast beef is really good. I haven't driven up this year, but it use to be reasonably priced.

[krackin]

I buy from Honeyville Grain. Their products are fine, service is quick, prices are better than any I have found online consistently, and the shipping charge of 5 bucks can't be beat. I mostly get flour, yeast and grains. The cut 9 grain cereal is fantastic. I have gotten dried kidney beans, dextrose and a few other things. No complaints.

[Ozarks Tom]

Where to buy bulk foods? Why, http://www.bulkfoods.com/default.asp of course. We've been buying from them for years and have been very happy with both the products and prices. Especially their spices, when you consider what those little bottles in the supermarket sell for. Also, their Cheddar Cheese powder is great for homemade Mac & Cheese and cheese sauces.

We repackage into plastic jugs from Walmart, drop in O2 absorbers, and run a bead of caulk around the inside of the lid. Keeps for years.

We buy our grain/beans/oats/etc. from a Mennonite store about 40 miles from here.

[1shotwade]

Originally Posted by mekasmom

DOT foods is a restaurant supply store. You can go there and purchase items from their warehouse. I get rice in 25lb bags and other things there. The roast beef is really good. I haven't driven up this year, but it use to be reasonably priced.

OK so two different animals. What I have is DOT"S BULK FOODS and they have honey by the gallon,an extreme variety types of flour,spices and confections made on site. Not near the kind of place you are talking about. The whole building can't be over 3000 sq ft.


Wade

[BelleWithBoots]

wow thanks guys, so many great ideas! I knew i came to the right place ;-) anyone wanna tell me where the secret place to stock up on canning jars for next summer is? theres got to be cheaper places than in the grocery store... also looking for milk jugs :-)

[ET1 SS]

Originally Posted by BelleWithBoots

wow thanks guys, so many great ideas! I knew i came to the right place ;-) anyone wanna tell me where the secret place to stock up on canning jars for next summer is? theres got to be cheaper places than in the grocery store... also looking for milk jugs :-)

Grocery store prices can be outrageous.

Only a fairly small portion of our food needs to come from grocery stores.

[big rockpile]

Look on Craigslist I know I sold several to a Member here. Glad she got them but kick myself for selling them.

Just shows to really think through every time selling Homesteads or anything to do with Homesteading.

As far as buying Bulk we shop at Mennonite Store, plus during Summer have Produce Auction each week.

Plus if you can use it, plant every area you can and Chickens, Rabbits and Hogs produce meat fairly fast.

big rockpile

I have heard that canning jars can be found at estate auctions, but I haven't found any here. And finding them on Craig's List makes them about a dollar a jar. The stores are about $2 per jar.

I found the last dozen jars of pints in a hardware store about two hours away from home - on a lark, I asked if they had any! Less than a buck a jar for new Ball jars...

[Terri in WV]

I buy bulk from Sam's Club and my local Amish store.

The Amish store also has decent prices on jars(and bulk lids). A couple of weeks ago I got cases of 1 1/2 pints for $8.50. I also watch Kmart for sales on them too. Right now they have 10% off and free shipping over $59.00. Every once in a while they'll run 20%+ off. They're prices are usually better than what I see at any other place.

You can also put the word out to family, friends, neighbors and co-workers that you're looking for jars.

[elkhound]

for spices here


http://spicebarn.com/

[V-NH]

I order from here:

www.beprepared.com