Ordering Bulk Produce
If you juice or are on a whole food plant based diet, you know you go through a lot of produce, (those of you who juice will know what I mean)! In order to cut down on so many grocery trips, I have begun to order some of my regularly used produce, like carrots and apples, in bulk from my local grocery store.
If this is an idea that sounds appealing to you, here are a few things to consider…
Things to Consider
How Quickly Things Spoil
Because you are buying in bulk, be sure that you will be able to use up whatever you order before it goes bad. A friend and I have gone in on a cucumber box before, which is really tasty in juices, but I had a hard time using all of it before it started to go bad, even though I only had half of the cucumbers we ordered! Carrots and apples tend to last a little longer in the refrigerator and are good ones to consider.
Do You Have Enough Space
Make sure you have enough space to store a couple of boxes of produce. I was lucky enough to purchase a second refrigerator just for my produce. Get creative if you need… Look for a second hand refrigerator in your area that you could put in a basement or garage if you don’t have room in your kitchen. Some people have even used coolers to hold their extra produce in. But do consider your space limitations and get creative on solutions if you need to.
Splitting Orders With A Friend
At my local grocery store, they can’t order partial boxes, I have to order the whole box which sometimes results in a lot of produce that I wouldn’t be able to get through in time all by myself. In this instance, consider splitting a box with a friend or two who also juice or would be able to use it. Need some friends who might also juice? Check in with your local HealingStrong group to find like minded people who might be willing to go in on orders with you.
Check With Your Local Produce Manager
Call or visit with your local produce manager to learn about pricing and order procedures and deadlines. Most are great to work with especially when you mention you are juicing or on a healing diet for cancer or other things.
For those who live in Southern Utah, here is a little tutorial on how to order from Natural Grocers, which is where I usually get my produce from.
Bulk Ordering from Natural Grocers
Here's a simple guide on how to order bulk produce from Natural Grocers. This information is specifically for the St George, Utah store. Be sure to check with your own local store for specifics to your area.
Instructions
Order Schedule:
Natural Grocers places produce orders on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings.
How to Order:
Call or visit with the produce manager before the night before the next order day to place your order. So get your order in before Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evening.
Order Requirements
You must order a whole box of produce—no partial boxes are allowed.
Pricing:
Prices vary based on the current rates from their suppliers.
Delivery & Pickup:
Your order will be delivered on the following Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, depending on the day you placed the order. You can pick it up in the afternoon.
Juicing and eating a whole food plant based diet are wonderful ways to improve and boost your health and wellness. But they do require more produce than you may have been used to eating before. I hope this was a helpful guide for you if you are wanting to start ordering bulk produce.
To your health and healing!
