As I was walking through the store the other day, I overheard a customer telling their friend about another store they had been to in a different state. She said that it wasn’t a “real” natural food store like the Moscow Food Co-op because it didn’t have any bulk foods. I thought it was unusual to define a natural food store by whether or not they sold food in bulk. As I thought about it more I realized what an important anchor to promoting a healthy, natural life a bulk department could be. As our lives become more hectic and fast-paced, convenience foods account for more and more of the purchases at the Co-op. There are not enough freezer doors to carry all the products that customers are looking for. The deli grab-and-go case is bought out a couple of times a day. Shoppers want convenience and they want it fast. Bulk foods have a reputation for being just that much more work to buy and to prepare. Was this reputation well founded or do we need to take another look at bulk foods? With the New Year fast approaching and the inevitable push to make positive changes in our lives, I thought I’d see if I could dispel bulk’s bad rep and start buying more.

The Co-op carries over 400 items in bulk. They cover twenty-one categories from baking needs to trail mixes. Some of the products we carry only in their bulk form such as granola, nuts, and herbs and spices. Other items, like rice and pasta you can buy both in packages or in bulk. I’m not sure how bulk got its reputation for being the home of hard-to-make and slow-to-cook food. When I took a good hard look at what we carry, the only items I could think of that fit that description were dried beans. Most of what I found could be used instantly, like nuts or granola. Grains seem to be the most intimidating to the uninitiated, but most grains cook in less than 30 minutes with little effort. Recently, I’ve been eating oatmeal for breakfast and I’ve been surprised at how much better rolled oats taste than a package of instant oatmeal. The extra five minutes it takes to cook the oats is more than made up for in the depth of flavor.

Besides tasting better and not really being more time-consuming, bulk is better for all of us. Most of the products we sell in bulk are in their whole form—nothing added and nothing taken away. They’re full of all the things our bodies need to stay healthy, they truly nourish us. They’re also good for the planet. They are minimally packaged, saving the raw materials to make the packaging and the landfill space to dispose of it. You can bring in your own re-used containers to buy it in, even further reducing packaging. Over two-thirds of the bulk items are also organically grown, reducing the amount of pesticides and herbicides that go into the environment and into our bodies.

There are so many good reasons to shop the bulk department. It’s easy; you can buy as much as you need; it tastes great; it’s nutritious; it’s good for the planet; and it costs less. Look for me more in the bulk department this year.

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