Buying Great Food in Bulk
Not having the food you need on hand is like running out of toilet paper while you’re on the toilet—it’s just no good. Few of us have the time or energy to go running to the store every time we run out of a key ingredient. And those emergency grocery runs tend to cost more money, too. Instead of scrambling and overspending, we buy quality foods we love in bulk. We’re not talking industrial-sized cans of processed snack foods or 128-ounce jars of pickles that go bad before you can finish them, but whole foods we feel good about eating. Here, we share with you the many benefits of buying in bulk (hint: its more than just saving time and money), a list of the best foods to purchase in large quantities and tips for efficiently stocking up and storing it all.
Bulk Benefits
People buy in bulk for lots of reasons. Here’s what motivates us to buy big:- Save money. When you buy in bulk the price per unit is reduced, therefore saving you money. Studies show that bulk foods cost on average 89 percent less than packaged foods*. And, making fewer trips to the store saves gas.
- Save time. Buying larger quantities in a single trip to the store reduces the amount of time spent shopping and driving.
- The ability to buy only the quantity needed. Whether you want a large quantity of, lets say flour, for your pantry or just a small amount for a particular recipe, buying food from bulk bins gives you flexibility. You get (and pay for) only what you need and waste less.
- Use less packaging. Most bulk purchases use less packaging—or none at all if you bring your own containers. They also reduce shipping materials and distribution costs*.
- Eating healthier. Many of the foods that are available in bulk are whole foods (foods that are a product of nature, not industry; processed or refined as little as possible with no additives or artificial substances), which are better for you than highly processed foods.
What to Buy in Bulk
If there were one hard and fast rule of what to buy in bulk, it would be: Buy what you eat the most. A few things we tend to buy in bulk include:Pantry Staples
| Beans | Nuts and seeds | Flours |
| Rice | Nut butters | Coffee and tea |
| Lentils | Spices | Cereal |
| Quinoa | Dried Fruits | Maple syrup |
| Oats | Dried Mushrooms | Oils |
| Pasta | Sugars | Vinegars |
Produce
When you buy fruits and vegetables in season you get foods that are at the peak of freshness and that have maximum nutritional value at the lowest possible price. Buy them in large quantities and preserve them (by freezing, canning, etc.) and you can get fantastic flavor and good nutrients all year long. However, you should only buy produce in bulk if you plan to freeze otherwise preserve it right away.
Meat
Good meat is hard to find, so when you find it you’ll want to buy a lot of it. Everyone has different definition of “good meat.” For us, it’s grass-fed beef, pastured pork and chicken without any added hormones, antibiotics or the use of GMO feed purchased from transparent, local sources. There is such a big difference in nutrition and taste between mass-produced, widely available conventional meat and meat produced on a small scale with intention. We suggest buying larger quantities of good meat several times a year and storing it in your freezer (or deep freezer, if you have the space). Then, try to eat it as slowly as possible to make it last. (Buy a CowShare or PigShare.)
Lastly, don’t overlook your local Farmers’ Market. If you see items you’d like to buy in bulk, talk to the farmer/vendor to see if they offer discounts for larger purchases. Most are willing to work out a deal with customers.
Where to Buy in Bulk
There are lots of places in our area to buy big, but here are a few we believe sell great food in bulk:- Fair Food
- Greensgrow Farms
- Mariposa Co-op
- South Philly Food Co-op
- Swarthmore Co-op
- Weaver’s Way Co-op
- Whole Foods Market
Lastly, don’t overlook your local Farmers’ Market. If you see items you’d like to buy in bulk, talk to the farmer/vendor to see if they offer discounts for larger purchases. Most are willing to work out a deal with customers.
Stocking, Storage, Etc.
Don't’ be afraid of the freezer. Good food that is properly frozen at the peak of freshness retains all its nutritional value and flavor for months. Plus, freezing provides a quick and convenient way to enjoy nutritious food—just pull out what you need, defrost, cook and enjoy. (See our tips for proper defrosting methods.)Organize your space to store things you use the most, efficiently. Having most used items or items that don’t have easy substitutes at home is the most convenient and allows you to capitalize on opportunities to save money. Figure out what is the “toilet paper” in your regular meal preparation.
Keep a list near the place you store bulk purchases so you can make a note when you start to run low. When you buy in bulk, you need something to remind you when it is time to buy again.
Split the bulk buying. Just because you’re single, have a small family or simply don’t have a lot of storage space, doesn’t mean you can’t buy in bulk. When you organize a group of friends or family for a bulk order you can often save even more, as the larger the quantity the lower the price per unit. (Organize a group to buy a whole cow or pig.)