Bulk Buy: Frequently Asked Questions
The first service of the Food Justice program is the Bulk Buy Collective. Those who participate in the collective get access to fresh produce at wholesale prices through shared purchasing power.
Q: Who can order with the Bulk Buy?
Anyone can order with us! The more orders we get, the more produce we can buy so the more participants the better! Tell your friends, buy a bag for your family, or purchase extra produce on the pick up date. All these actions support our program and allow us to get greater returns for our clients!
Q: How often does Bulk Buy run?
We currently offer the program on the second Saturday and fourth Friday of every month. The Friday runs after 5pm to accommodate those with busy weekends and has been added thanks to the interest of our clients! As the program continues to grow, we’ll do our best to adapt to the needs of our clients.
Q: Do I have to commit to ordering every month?
A: No commitment is required. We encourage our clients to order as needed. We want this program to be as low barrier as possible to our community, meaning you can order from us whenever you need and are able.
Q: What kinds of foods can I expect to see in a Bulk Buy bag?
We currently have 2 options for purchase, the Standard bag and the South Asian-friendly bag. The selection of produce varies from month-to-month.
The Standard bag typically includes a selection of:
- tomatoes
- potatoes
- peppers
- cauliflower
- carrots
- squash
- apples
- broccoli
- bananas
- celery
- green onions
- kale
In addition to many of the items found in the Standard Bag, the South Asian-friendly bag typically includes a selection of:
- okra
- red onions
- garlic
- rapini leaves
- peppers
- spinach
- eggplant
- cabbage
- cauliflower
Q: Can produce bags be customized?
Unfortunately, at this point we are not able to offer customizable produce bags. We encourage you to give whatever you won’t eat to a friend or neighbor.
Q: Is the bag really worth $15?
Because the Bulk Buy Collective is a non-profit program, we are able to sell the produce bags at cost. You will get a very full bag of produce featuring 9-12 varieties of food. As of November 2023, $15 is a savings of approximately 60-70% based on the same items purchased at a grocery store.
Q: I’d love to give back! What volunteer opportunities are available?
A: Our program would not be able to run without the help of our volunteers and is mainly run by you! If you are able-bodied, we ask our Bulk Bulk participants to volunteer in the program to some capacity. We have a few different opportunities for volunteering:
- Packing bags! On the day of Bulk Buy, volunteers come from 10:30am to about 11:30am to help divide the produce and pack the bags. Children are also welcome, we love to see our littlest volunteers!
- Deliveries! We offer delivery for those who are housebound or have limited transportation to pick up bags on the day of Bulk Buy. If you can do a delivery or two, let us know we would love the support!
Q: Can I get a refund on my order?
100% of your spending goes toward the order so unfortunately we cannot offer refunds after the ordering deadline has passed. If you forget to pick up or can’t make it, please email us to arrange collection. Any bags that remain after the weekend are sold on a first come first served basis the following weekday and any that remain after that will be donated to the Food Bank.
Please email bulkbuy@archway.ca if you need to cancel your order for any reason. Orders can also be cancelled on your Account Dashboard.
