Shopping in Alaska (home, to buy, cabinets)

[quakinator]

Originally Posted by GrammasCabin

I buy nearly all my groceries from a bulk organic supplier in Oregon about 3 or 4 times a year.

What's the name of this outfit? Do they send the goods with Lynden?

[akck]

Amazon does a lot of business up here, but you have to watch out for the affiliated stores that do business through them. Some ship UPS only which can sometimes cost more than the item ordered. The trick for online shopping is to find companies that also ship USPS to Alaska. There have been many times where I canceled the order once the shipping charges were calculated. If you take the time, you can about always find some company with reasonable shipping charges. Those times when we can't, we sent it to a family member who forward it to us via USPS, costing about a quarter of the 2nd Day Air charge.

This is for items you can't buy locally or the local vendor charge is out of line.

[Rance]

I've had some places ship to my PO Box after writing a sniveling note about how they charge so much or ship some tiny package that would easily fit in my PO Box.

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by GrammasCabin

I buy nearly all my groceries from a bulk organic supplier in Oregon about 3 or 4 times a year. If you meet the minimum they truck everything free to the barge in Seattle and I only have to pay the barge fee ($75 last time) to get it to Wrangell. I usually have a couple friends wanting to order too so by the time we split the shipping it's negligible. My last order was 700 lbs worth of beans, dry milk, rice, nuts etc. etc. and it cost me $25 to get it here. The only things I buy in town are fresh eggs and salad fixins 'til the weather lets me grown my own. Everything else I keep in bulk stored in airtight buckets or in the freezer. We eat REALLY well around here as I always have all the ingredients I need on hand to make just about anything I can think of. I spend about $2,400 on groceries throughout the year for 2 adults and provide about half the meals for my grandkids and their dad. This includes TP, shampoo and all the other sundry items too. I am convinced that by staying out of the grocery store I save a bundle. No impulse shopping - if I want it, I make it. From early spring 'til late fall I do much of my 'grocery shopping' in the woods, on the beaches and from the boat as well as grow most all of my own veggies and potatoes.

As far as outrageous shipping charges to Alaska - there is no excuse for it. I am currently having a heated email argument with Orek for charging me $28 shipping for a $30 part that cost them $7.50 to mail. Their original excuse was that they have a contract with the USPS that charges them $25 for every item shipped to Alaska. When I told them that my postmaster said there was no such thing they tried to tell me that "Your postal service does not have access to the fees in our postal service area" Like WHAT?! We are a foreign country? At times I wish!!
Personally I think all Alaskans should file a class-action lawsuit against these thieves. Makes me furious!

We are bulk shoppers and hate grocery stores!! We are hoping we can continue this when we move to Alaska and very happy to see your posting regarding this.
would you mind sharing the information of the company you buy bulk through and what barge company you use?? also would like to know info about food grade airtight storage container suppliers?? do you purchase any meat through this supplier??
I am currently searching for good air tight container for whole wheat bulk flour (50lb bags) the restaurant equipment places are ridiculously expensive.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by blueflames50

We are bulk shoppers and hate grocery stores!! We are hoping we can continue this when we move to Alaska and very happy to see your posting regarding this.
would you mind sharing the information of the company you buy bulk through and what barge company you use?? also would like to know info about food grade airtight storage container suppliers?? do you purchase any meat through this supplier??
I am currently searching for good air tight container for whole wheat bulk flour (50lb bags) the restaurant equipment places are ridiculously expensive.

I just use food grade plastic buckets (4 or 5 gallons). If rodents are a problem put the buckets in steel trash cans. You could buy metal lard cans but they're a bit expensive.

[GrammasCabin]

Here's the link to the bulk supplier I use. I have to warn you - they have everything! It takes me days and days to fill in my order 'cause I keep finding new stuff. Then I have to go back and sort the "wants" from the "needs"! If you order the bulk stuff 25# or 50# it's a lot cheaper than smaller quantities. The milk powder is not the instant kind, a little harder to mix but they also sell 2-quart pitchers with special plungers that mixed it right up. The organic whole milk is to expensive for me but the milk I do buy comes from cows that aren't fed any growth hormones or antibiotics. I think the mixing pitchers are in the non-grocery section for about $6. I use a lot of raw wild honey instead of sugar and, although it's expensive I buy the honey in 5-gallon buckets. It usually lasts me at least 2 years. They deliver to "drop points" all over the western US - clear to Minnesota - but you have to pick your goods up at their drop points, otherwise the minimum goes up for each extra mile they have to travel with it.
If food grade buckets are hard to find, or spendy in your area, they sell those as well. Also a great lid that snaps on tight with a screw-off middle section that makes it much easier to get at your dry goods. If you throw a handful of bay leaves in with your flour and grains it'll keep the critters from wanting to get in there. Check out their herb & spice section! Their spices are the best I've ever found, fresh and just screaming with flavor. Not at all like the crap in the grocery stores and a fraction of the cost. I buy the ones I use most by the pound and store them in the freezer.

I've been saving gallon glass jars for years and fill them to keep in the kitchen so I don't have to keep fussing with the buckets. So glad I've saved them 'cause they're harder to come by what with everything being sold in plastic anymore. I think this outfit sells them tho, not sure. check with the local restaurants in your area to see if they by condiments in glass gallon jars. They might just save some for you.



We only eat venison and moose for meat but I do buy their organic chickens (fruits & veggies when I can afford it). I'll be happy to help anyone with which products I've found better than others.

I have my stuff delivered to Northland in Seattle but I bet they'll deliver to Linden Transport too. These are really great people to work with, answer emails almost immediately and when you call, you get a real person!

[GrammasCabin]

OOPS! forgot the link!

Azure Standard - Quality Bulk & Natural Foods

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by GrammasCabin

OOPS! forgot the link!

Azure Standard - Quality Bulk & Natural Foods

thank you so much for the info!! We are hoping keep our packing of stuff to a minimum so a lot of stuff/storage containers will have to stay behind I really like the containers you mention with the screw lid in the top for easy access!! those I will invest in!!! I will have to compare the spices with the "Atlantic Spice Co" that I use here...they will ship to me in AK and have wonderful spices but....we'll see who wins out in flavor!!
will contact you later regarding where we will be and info on shipping and pick up in our area. PS love your kitchen!!

[quakinator]

Gotta spread it around some more Grammas before I can rep ya again, but thank you for the information!

[Rance]

Gramma I love your kitchen!