Co-op for bulk foods, other.

[John]

Ah, I see.  Well, I'm all about the good deal and I love my rBGH and yummy modified genetics, but to each his own!

Someday, someday perhaps, I shall find the incredible better-than-grocery-store dealer, cut out the middle man, and eat off into the sunset, and oh what a day that shall be.

[Space Cowboy]

Here are a couple of links. One of them has free shipping!

http://store.honeyvillegrain.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=273

http://www.providentliving.org/content/list/0,11664,2003-1,00.html

http://www.waltonfeed.com/

http://lds.about.com/library/bl/faq/blcalculator.htm

That should be a pretty good start. There are, of course, many many more.....

SC

[MamaLiberty]

Thanks, Ken. I'll check them out.

The problem with "free" shipping is that is really isn't. Somebody has to pay for it, and you can bet it isn't coming out of their profit!! And it shouldn't. The shipping is a legitimate cost of getting whatever it is you want.

Over the years, however, I have found that providers who try to convince customers that the shipping is "free" are sometimes less than honest about other things... so I'm wary of such outfits. Just for what it's worth.

There really, REALLY is no such thing as a "free" lunch.

[Daveasxx]

I would be interested to know how cheap these sources are.  I frankly have never found any "bulk" dealers that were cheaper than the grocery stores.

True, Smiths has 20 for 10 FRN cans frequently.  And I've seen better than that at other places sometimes.  For grains, rice, breadmix etc.  I've used this place many times.  They are stand-up folks.  And they will even permentanly delete all records of your transaction if you ask them too.  That may be extremely valuable in a couple of years.

Dave

http://www.internet-grocer.net/

[idahobob]

You may want to check out this website:
www.azurestandard.com

We belong to a food co-op here in North Central Idaho that uses this outfit. They have a great catalog, with bi-monthly sales. Most of their products are organic and they deliver on a monthly basis. I believe that they have a delivery route that goes to your part of Wyoming.
They are really good folks to work with, they are out of Oregon.

[MamaLiberty]

Great,thanks and welcome!

Dave, I don't expect to get into ordering canned goods. They are easy to get locally and the shipping would be murder. But we might be able to get a bulk deal even on that from some local canner or warehouse. There's no reason not to look into it if the members want to do so.

I'm much more interested in finding local or reasonably close suppliers for fresh fruits and vegetables next summer. We can then can or dry our own if we want.

I've heard that there are some good fruit producers in Bell Fouche, but have not yet gone over there. I'll make a point of it next year. Does anyone else know of some outfit that grows fruit and/or vegetables in SD or NE Wyoming?

[MamaLiberty]

Here are some large co-ops and distributors we might use as resources.

http://www.rainbownf.com/
RAINBOW?  Natural Foods is a wholesale distributor of natural and organic products, based in Aurora, Colorado and serves as part of the Western Region for United Natural Foods.

Rainbow services over 1200 customers in the Central United States with a product selection of over 17,000 covering the Dairy, Bulk, General Merchandise, Personal Care, Beverage, Grocery, Frozen and Vitamin categories. Among those are a number of exclusive proprietary brands.

San Francisco Herb Co. http://www.sfherb.com/
Gourmet Herbs, Spices, Tea, Essential Oils, Potpourri, and Catnip at Wholesale Prices.

 Wholesale prices on the highest quality culinary herbs and spices, extracts, teas, dehydrated vegetables, nuts, seeds, botanicals, essential oils, potpourri ingredients and fragrance oils.

Frontier http://www.frontiercoop.com/
[Too much environmental touchy-feely for me, but some might like it.]

[motherfrog]

ML, That seems like a good idea to me. Let us know when you get the info.  motherfrog

[MamaLiberty]

Ok, here is the first proposed buy. I use this sea salt. http://www.realsalt.com/shop/realsalt_bulk_box.cfm

I've been getting it in a local health food store in a 26 oz package for about $4.00/pound plus tax.

If purchased in a 25 pound sack, it will cost about $3.36 a pound, including the shipping. There would be no tax. Repackaging costs would be small, but it would be expensive to reship.

Let me know if you are interested in getting some of this, and how much. I'll contact them and see if they would make a deal on more than one sack...

[Joe]

If you know any Mormons in your areaaround about etc. many times there is a church related co-op bulk warehouse in the area. If they have 'extra" they will usually sell to non-church members.

[MamaLiberty]

Thanks, Joe. It's a possibility, but not likely anything closer than 100 miles. I'll check it out.

[V2Dream]

I think John & I would certainly be interested in the co-op.  That is when we get moved in up there.
As for now we are just using up what we have mostly so we don't have to bring so much when we do come.
We are back on the forum for now anyway and will be catching up for the next few days.
HUGS

[John]

If you know any Mormons in your areaaround about etc. many times there is a church related co-op bulk warehouse in the area. If they have 'extra" they will usually sell to non-church members.

The one for our area is the

Green River Wy Home Storage Center
120 Shoshone Ave.
Green River, Wy. 82935
307-875-3972

Here's some example prices:

Apple Slices (15 lbs) $3.31 per lb.
Pinto Beans (25 lbs) $0.48 per lb.
Oats, either Quick or Regular (25 lbs) both $0.36 per lb.
Hard Wheat either Red or White (25 lbs) both $0.19 per lb.
Chocolate Pudding (25 lbs) $1.50 per lb.
#10 dry pack can $0.55 each
Oxygen Absorber $0.10 each

They've got all kinds of food storage stuff.  You will order in tandem with some of the other Mormons in town (there are a bunch in Newcastle) so you all can get a whole pallet and save on the trucking cost.

[MamaLiberty]

Thanks, John. The dried fruit is especially interesting. Who would I contact here in Newcastle to set that up?

On another note, I can get organic white whole wheat flour for a good price. A 50 pound bag costs just $16.95. I don't know what the shipping cost is yet, but it comes from Montana, so it won't be too much. If we could order several hundred pounds, it wouldn't be much at all per pound.

Let me know right away if you are interested. I use a lot of this flour (been getting it in 10 lb. bags at WalMart) so it is one thing I will definitely be getting soon.

V2Dream, I can store some here for you. Let me know if you want some.

[V2Dream]

Thanks but we use a Vita-Mix and also have an electric grist mill that we use to grind up the whole wheat berries when we need the whole wheat flour.  It will last indefinate if you don't grind them up.  I have several 5 gallon buckets of the stuff.  So I don't need any right now.  I will let you know if I do.  I will be interested
in helping out with the co-op though.  I have always thought it was an excellant idea.