My local Sam's Club does not sell bulk dried beans either. My local grocery store (Wegman's) has a bulk food department. I talked to one of the workers and was able to order bulk beans, rice and rolled oats in 25# bags. Got my order in two days and was thrilled to have them. I plan to put my beans into buckets with diatomaceous earth (which I found at my local nursery) to keep any critters from inhabiting them. My food preparations are finally to a place where I am feeling comfortable with my stockpile for my family and extended family. Mary

-- Mary Howe (doesnotmatter@thistime.com), December 05, 1998

Answers

Good for you, Mary. Your family is lucky to have someone looking out for them. The diatomaceous earth is a good idea for bugs- for long term storage, be sure to use a food grade liner too while you're at it, since most ordinary plastics are gas permeable and won't keep out oxygen.

Since Sam's didn't have a few of the things I wanted (like dried beans in bulk) I went to my local grocery wholesaler- the place some local stores and restaurants get their supplies. They were willing to sell to me as long as I paid sales tax (since I don't have a tax number and the stuff wasn't for resale that was no problem). They had some other good stuff too (like kitchen matches and Potato Pearls) that I hadn't found anywhere else.

Just look in the Yellow Pages under 'Grocers- Wholesale' to see if there's one near you, and give them a call to see if you as a non- retailer can do business there. My local wholesaler was even willing to order stuff they didn't have in stock for me (like lentils- not a big selling item in my area).

nemo...

-- nemo... (nemo@deepsix.com), December 05, 1998.

I thought food grade plastic buckets were alright without liner?

-- more dinty moore (not@this time.com), December 05, 1998.

nemo-- thanks for the info.

I found the web site for the producer of Potato Pearls, Basic American Foods. Here is the page for Potato Pearls. Check out Potato Pearls EXCEL; I think these are the type I've been hearing about, they have butter flavor and seasonings already added so all you need to do is add water and whip. The mormons I've talked to say they're quite good.

I noticed that Basic American Foods also has instant refried beans. Think I'll check this out as well, see what kind of price and shelf life it has.

-- Max Dixon (Ogden, Utah USA) (Max.Dixon@gte.net), December 05, 1998.

Max, I checked that web site regarding Potato Pearls EXCEL, but it says you must be a food service operator in order to buy! What is the ordinary person to do? Thanks, Carol

-- Carol Pennington (verbatim@hotmail.com), December 05, 1998.

Mary that is great to hear. I have been doing the same thing the past 2 1/2 months and have been posting it on forum after forum. I just simply called 2 grocery stores and asked them if they happen to sell bulk items in their grocers section, the first said no, the 2nd said yes, and then I just asked if I could order through them. Like you, I am allowed to order any item that is available to them, whether they carry it or not and for their time and trouble, they only add 2.00 per bag above their own costs. I feel it is a Blessing from God to be provided such a simple method to get my bulk food here in the city. Ellen

-- Ellen (kwood@metropc.net), December 05, 1998.

Check out your local food cooperatives also. In the Seattle area, we are lucky to have not only Puget Consumer's Coop, the biggest in the country, but a number of smaller food cooperatives, and buying bulk is what they do best.

-- Karen Cook (browsrcat@hotmail.com), December 06, 1998.

You might also try a natural/health food store. They usually can get items in 25 or 50# bags. And the quality might be better.

Just a thought.

-- jd (hemwat@bellsouth.net), December 06, 1998.

We bought 25 lbs bags of 15 bean mix from our local market. They are carried by them and so they charged the same bulk price of $.50 a lb. We just ordered our second bag as the 15 bean mix is much cheaper than any of the individual beans when packaged seperately. Figure it will be a great pass-time to seperate them when we want a little change of pace.

Also in the bulk department of several stores around here, we have been able to buy many other worthwhile items. It has come as some surprise to me that you can make a breakfast consisting of things such as oatmeal with brown sugar, farina (cream of wheat?), pancakes & syrup, dried eggs and other items for just a nickle a day. That's just $20.00 total for two people, for six whole months. Mind blowing; to me. :-)

Lunch is similar. Bean soups made with stewed tomatoes, lemon juice, garlic, etc. are just a dime for a large bowl. That makes lunch just $40.00 for two people for 6 months.

Supper can consist of basics, many dried, such as spagetti and sauce, noodles and gravy, rice in many styles, potatoes, dinty moore stews and other rather ordinary store bought foods. I haven't done a six month estimate on this but it seems like $.50 to $1.00 a meal isn't out of the question. So maybe that runs $180.00 to $360.00 for two people for the same period but, when you normally spend over a hundred each week, it's pretty impressive.

We are adding other items of course, for variety and splurges, after the guaranteed and least cost *base* is in place. The more additions of canned fruits and other goodies and alternatives you get, will not only reduce diet bordome proportionately but make the *base* last that much longer.

Another thing we feel will happen is that a solid breakfast and lunch with supper later, will turn into just breakfast and a lunch-supper combination. When you eat better; more protein and less sugar, you can go *much* longer without becoming hungry.

I just wanted to show, for those just coming aboard and facing this scarey prospect, that putting together a six month or a years supply of food is not necessarily an insurmountable task or expense. Do it.

Me.

-- Floyd Baker (fbaker@wzrd.com), December 07, 1998.