Co-op News | Summer Quarterly 2024
Incredible Bulk Days Are Coming!
by Mara Segal, Arcata Front-End
The Co-op’s Incredible Bulk Days are coming! This is your chance to celebrate the Co-op’s incredible Bulk Department and get 20% off all items for three days.
What makes the Bulk Department so incredible? There are over 500 items to choose from for every meal of the day, from coffee and cereal to start your day to everything you need to bake something wonderful for dessert. One of the great benefits of buying in bulk is the option to buy only the amount you need, whether it is one teaspoon of a new seasoning or 5 pounds of masa for your holiday tamales. When Co-op employees were asked about their favorite Bulk items, one employee said she was hooked on the spices.
Not only are bulk spices a fraction of the cost of pre-packed spices, but they also tend to be much fresher. Add in less waste and it’s a win-win. Fun snacks are another area that employees really enjoy. Have you ever tried the herb and garlic cashews or the chili mangoes? Dried mango was a favorite for almost everyone. There are three different bins of dried mangoes; the Equal Exchange one is the hands-down favorite as it is made from the tasty Ataulfo variety of mango. There are salty/crunchy snacks (try the wild rice sticks), sweet treats (chocolate almonds are my husband’s fave), and all kinds of trail mixes, sweet and savory.
When it comes to baking ingredients, the Bulk Department really shines. There are multiple kinds of flour for the bread-bakers and even wheat and rye berries for those who grind their own. For a gluten-free baker like me, there are many alternative flours and gluten-free ingredients. I make delicious crackers from sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, and flax seeds that beat the commercial varieties by a landslide.
At our house, the Bulk Department is represented at pretty much every meal. Breakfast could be quick oats and raisins, one of the yummy granolas, or biscuits made with cornmeal and almond flour. Lunch might feature the bulk peanut or almond butter. And there are so many choices for dinner! Soups from the local beans or the very quick-cooking red lentils, stir-fried veggies with Jasmine rice and bulk cashews, polenta, and ratatouille—the possibilities are endless!
Whether you want to stock up on your favorite locally-roasted coffee, freshen up your spice drawer, refill your bottles with maple syrup, honey, or olive oil, pack your jars with healthy back-to-school snacks, or just replenish your staples, Incredible Bulk Days are for you! Don’t forget to bring in your reusable containers to save yourself a step when it’s time to put everything away.
