Portland, OR Filter: Where can I buy good-quality bulk foods?
June 1, 2013 6:32 PM Subscribe
Looking for staples like basmati rice, beans and coconut oil. I use the bulk bins at my local groceries (New Seasons, Whole Foods and the local co-op), and some of their bulk prices for things like spices are amazing, but they still have pretty steep prices for some of the basics.
Sheridans is good for bulk grains, beans, and spices. Fubonn for Asian foods.
posted by ottereroticist at 6:42 PM on June 1, 2013
posted by ottereroticist at 6:42 PM on June 1, 2013
What part of Portland ?
WinCo Foods is my go-to vendor for most conventional bulk staples, except for rice, which I get from the local Asian grocery (Hong Phat on Prescott Street, Sandy Blvd)
posted by Kakkerlak at 6:43 PM on June 1, 2013
WinCo Foods is my go-to vendor for most conventional bulk staples, except for rice, which I get from the local Asian grocery (Hong Phat on Prescott Street, Sandy Blvd)
posted by Kakkerlak at 6:43 PM on June 1, 2013
I go to FuBonn on 82nd for rice and various oils (and all matter of Asian foods).
posted by medeine at 7:53 PM on June 1, 2013
posted by medeine at 7:53 PM on June 1, 2013
the other thing to keep in mind -- since all of your listed sources seem to be in the hippie/organic spectrum -- is that most Asian markets will have only conventionally grown items. Winco has some organic bulk items, as does Fred Meyer.
One advantage to going the Winco route is that if you seriously buy dry goods in bulk, they also sell 2 to 5 gallon buckets and gamma seal lids to store 'em in.
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 11:25 PM on June 1, 2013
One advantage to going the Winco route is that if you seriously buy dry goods in bulk, they also sell 2 to 5 gallon buckets and gamma seal lids to store 'em in.
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 11:25 PM on June 1, 2013
Penzeys for spices. They are the best quality I've found and can be quite cheap, especially if you split a bulk shipment with friends.
If you think you'd buy enough over the course of a year, check out Costco.
posted by susanvance at 5:37 AM on June 2, 2013
If you think you'd buy enough over the course of a year, check out Costco.
posted by susanvance at 5:37 AM on June 2, 2013
I am not sure the price would be the cheapest, but Bob's Red Mill out in Clackamas has some great bulk food options and supplies.
posted by ainsley at 9:03 PM on June 2, 2013
posted by ainsley at 9:03 PM on June 2, 2013
FuBonn is a good place for things like huge bags of rice, as well as other oddities. Sheridans is also great for produce and bulk stuff.
That said, I've tried to do less stops, because driving from my house out to 82nd and down MLK to Sheridans and such basically eats in gas money and time anything I save. So I do a lot of my bulk buying from the co-op. Are you a member? You get a discount, and some days, at least at mine (Alberta), they have member appreciation days where you get even bigger discounts and can stock up on things. When things go on sale, especially normally pricey things like red quiona, I stock up. The membership discount makes it a bit cheaper than whole foods and it's also supporting the local economy and all that good hippie jazz. I don't mind paying a little more than FuBonn but less than Whole Foods for some of the stuff.
Still, hard to beat the giant rice bags or giant rice noodle packages at FuBonn.
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:43 AM on June 3, 2013
That said, I've tried to do less stops, because driving from my house out to 82nd and down MLK to Sheridans and such basically eats in gas money and time anything I save. So I do a lot of my bulk buying from the co-op. Are you a member? You get a discount, and some days, at least at mine (Alberta), they have member appreciation days where you get even bigger discounts and can stock up on things. When things go on sale, especially normally pricey things like red quiona, I stock up. The membership discount makes it a bit cheaper than whole foods and it's also supporting the local economy and all that good hippie jazz. I don't mind paying a little more than FuBonn but less than Whole Foods for some of the stuff.
Still, hard to beat the giant rice bags or giant rice noodle packages at FuBonn.
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:43 AM on June 3, 2013
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posted by jeffamaphone at 6:35 PM on June 1, 2013