Shopping the Bulk Aisle - Making it Easy, Fun and Sustainable
You’ve seen the bulk bins filled with everything from flour and grains to legumes, sweeteners, spices, snacks, nuts, cereals, granola, dried fruits – this is the Bulk Department at your retail grocery store. The bulk department essentially holds all the ingredients you need to make, bake or cook just about anything. Here you can scoop, pour or measure out JUST WHAT YOU NEED, no more, no less, allowing you to minimize storage needs and ensure what is on your shelves is fresh.
What are the benefits of shopping the bulk bins?
Food Quality - Bulk bins generally offer better quality food, that is fresher, organic, unique and local, and more socially responsible. Quality is something that you can taste.
Cost Savings - Without the cost of packaging, branding and marketing, bulk bins can provide a higher quality product at a lower price per pound.
Less Food Waste - Don’t buy more of something just to get a better deal. Buying only what you need is a key tenet in bulk bin shopping. In the US, we waste about 80 billion lbs. per year or over 200 lbs. per person. That is roughly 30% of the US food supply. Wasted food isn’t just a social or humanitarian concern—it’s also an environmental one. When we waste food, we also waste all the energy and water it takes to grow, harvest, transport, and package it. Less Packaging - Less plastic, and less packaging in general, is good for the environment. Even with the use of a plastic or paper bag provided in the bulk department, chances are you are using less packaging than grabbing something prepacked off the shelf. With care, you may even be able to reuse these bags at home!
Safety - One concern that comes up with bulk bin shopping is contamination—items getting mixed (food allergies) or germs on high touch surfaces. Gravity dispensers, where you pull the lever and food cascades out, (no scoops, no hands) help to alleviate these concerns. Not all products perform well in gravity dispensers, so grocery retailers are following common-sense guidelines for cleanliness and safety throughout the store. Washing your hands or sanitizing, wearing gloves while shopping bulk and asking for help from friendly store staff can make your bulk shopping experience safe.
How do I do it?
Make a list - Go through your list at home, identifying the items and amounts you plan to buy in the bulk aisle. With practice, you will find this goes faster and becomes a good routine.
Peruse, fill and label - You have your list, but why not check out what else is available in bulk? This is the FUN part! That granola, bean or nut you have never tried? Get just enough to try it out at home. This is one of the best things about bulk aisle shopping. Once you have decided what you are going to purchase, fill your bag or container with the amount you need and write the PLU (price look-up) code on the bag or twist tie. We recommend including the product name to eliminate confusion at check out and to help jog your memory about what you purchased when you unpack at home.
Check out - The person at the register will weigh your items, subtract any container weight on the scale, and charge you based on the PLU code.
Storage at home
- Unless you are using something immediately, do your best to keep foods in airtight containers. Canning jars of various sizes work well for this. Dry pasta, rice, and beans store just fine in your pantry. Store perishable foods like nuts, flours, whole grains in the refrigerator or freezer to keep them from going rancid. If you are not sure how to best store a product, a quick online search will tell you. Now, all you need is practice and encouragement! Shopping the bulk aisle can be personally fulfilling. Take the opportunity to try new things without a lot of commitment, enjoy higher quality food, save money and reduce your impact on the environment.
Apple, Cherry & Awakened Pecan Salad
The amazing crunch and flavor of the Awakened® Pecans make this salad special.
SALAD INGREDIENTS:
6 cups organic mixed greens
1 organic Honeycrisp apple, thinly sliced
1/2 cup organic Awakened® Pecans
1/2 cup dried organic tart cherries
1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese
LEMON VINAIGRETTE:
1/4 cup organic California olive oil
1/4 cup organic apple cider vinegar
1 organic lemon, juiced and zested
2 tablespoon organic maple syrup
1 tablespoon organic poppy seeds
DIRECTIONS:
1) To make the vinaigrette, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, lemon zest, maple syrup and poppy seeds in a small bowl; set aside.
2) Assemble the salad, place mixed greens in a large bowl; top with apple, pecans, cherries and goat cheese. Pour the dressing on the salad and gently toss to combine.
3) Serve immediately.
The 2021 Good Food Award winning organic Awakened® Pecans are also equally special on waffles or ice cream, in cookies, energy bars or as the feature in Pecan Carmel Sticky Buns or Maple Pecan Pie. The Awakened® Pecans are made exclusively in Eugene, Oregon by Hummingbird Wholesale.
www.hummingbirdwholesale.com






