Why I Like Bulk

by Rachel Sandhorst, Member-Owner

I began buying food in bulk years ago in an effort to reduce my packaging waste. This is still my main reason for all my bulk purchases. I don't have to throw away or recycle plastic bags, bottles, cans or cardboard. In fact, I reuse my plastic bags over and over, or I bring in my glass jars and fill them up on the spot. Not to worry, Open Harvest has new plastic bags available for you to use if you like. But feel free to bring in your own container, and ask a cashier to weight it or weigh it at the scale by the bulk coffee and jot down the "tare" weight. That weight will be subtracted from your total so you only pay for what you buy.

Buying in bulk also saves money. I don't pay for the extra packaging or the imbedded cost of advertising. The best place to save money is in the bulk spice area. I can fill up my entire spice container for less than a dollar. What a bargain!

Another reason I like bulk is because I am an experimental cook. If I come across a new recipe I'd like to try that has, say amaranth, I can bop over to bulk and buy only the amount I need. Even with items I use regularly like oatmeal, I'd rather buy from bulk, where the bin is constantly being refreshed with new oats.

Other concerns crop up now and again that confirm my devotion to bulk foods. Lately, I've been reading about BPA not only in plastic but in the lining of cans. That has renewed my effort to buy dry beans from bulk and spend a little extra time cooking them at home.

My favorite bulk items include dried beans, pastas, rice, yeast, spices and coffee. I also fill my shampoo and conditioner from the bulk jugs. I can't forget that all my dish and laundry soap come from bulk bins, as well. And that's just the beginning of the bulk items at Open Harvest. From turmeric to tea, nuts to granola, the bulk section offers a variety of products that you will use every day or on special occasions. Next time you're at Open Harvest, consider buying in bulk!