Bargains in the Bulk Food Bins
The Fairway market in Red Hook bills itself as the home of “the greatest selection of organic foods in Brooklyn.” I don’t know if that’s true, but I do know that if you’re not paying attention, you could miss the organic section’s star attraction: the bulk beans and grains. Push your cart past the granola and you’ll find 47 bins filled with all kinds of rice (jasmine, arborio, basmati, sweet, sushi, etc…), beans (kidney, pinto, navy, lima, lentil, etc…), oats, couscous, kasha and more.
You can even pick up some organic popping corn. It’s strictly do-it-yourself. You not only scoop what you want into a bag, but also weigh it yourself and print your own label. That means you get exactly what you want with no price tag surprises.
I like the convenience of bulk food and the feeling that I’m doing the environment a good turn by forsaking the unnecessary bags and boxes that come with pre-packaged options. And often, that pre-packaged food is more expensive. Elsewhere in the store, I found a 12-ounce container of quinoa for $3.99. For the same price in the bulk food section, I got 4 extra ounces. On my last trip to Fairway, I purchased natural Israeli couscous at $3.49 per pound and red quinoa at $3.99 per pound. Now, I just have to figure out the best way to prepare it — and make it last — until my next Fairway expedition.
By Diane Erwin on May 12, 2009 | 4
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4 Responses to “Bargains in the Bulk Food Bins”
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Kim
May 12th, 2009 @ 3:10 AM
I loooove to buy from the bulk section nowadays. cheaper and green-friendly. Too bad the Fairway in UWS don’t have a bulk section.
Rachel Crawford
May 12th, 2009 @ 5:27 AM
Yes! I speak the bulk foods gospel constantly. It’s too bad more grocery stores don’t do it, it really is the best way to save money on sometimes very expensive packaged dried goods.
Diane
May 12th, 2009 @ 3:27 PM
Luckily a few of the smaller grocers in my neighborhood, and even one of the local health food stores, have bulk foods as well. Not quite the selection of Fairway, but it’ll do!
Ana
May 13th, 2009 @ 12:24 PM
Looks like paradise. I’d love to visit one of these places someday.