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. See Start Here for Program Dates. See How It Works for more details on how to order. Email suggestions for this page to bulkbuy@archway.ca.
Q: How often does Bulk Buy run?
We now 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! See the next few dates on our About page!
Q: Do I have to commit to ordering every month?
No commitment! We encourage our clients to order as much as they can use or work with us directly to stretch their dollar. We want this program to be as low-barrier as possible for our community, meaning you can order from us whenever like, on and off.
Q: What kinds of foods can I expect to see in a Bulk Buy bag?
(For a more specific idea of what we plan to order each month, subscribe to our newsletter).
Typical produce in Standard bags is a selection from the following possible items:
- Apples
- Onions
- Carrots
- Cabbage
- Bananas
- Potatoes
- Oranges
- Tomatoes
- Bell Peppers
- Celery
- Yam/ Sweet Potatoes
- Seasonal Squash
Typical produce in the NEW Surprise bag is similar to items in the above list, often substituting TWO items for diverse menus:
- Cauliflower
- Garlic
- Red Onions
- Cabbage
- Peas
- Rapini/ Eggplant
- Surprise Fruits
- Surprise Vegetables
Q: Should I get the email reminders?
We recommend doing this first! These emails will contain info for anyone involved in the program. This is the best way to find out the planned menu and see what’s happening for the month. We’ll send at maximum 3 emails in a week, to inform folks during program dates.
Other ways to stay up to date: Follow us on Instagram to see behind the scenes photos! @valleyfoodconnection
FaceBook Group: Bulk Buy Collective
Q: How can I remember the dates?
Allow us to send you email reminders by clicking this link or the envelope icon found below. These emails send you a direct link to order as well as provide as much detail as possible about what will be in the bags!
See the dates on this site: Start Here
FaceBook : Bulk Buy Collective Group
Q: Who can order with the Bulk Buy?
Anyone can order with us! By ordering, you are NOT taking someone else’s bag.
The more orders we get, the more wholesale produce we can buy to share. Tell your friends, buy a bag for a relative, or purchase 1$ of extra produce on the pick up date. All these actions support our program and allow us to make a better product with you!
We do ask participants (who are able to) to occasionally give back by volunteering! Thank you.
Q: Is the bag really worth $15?
It is worth more! We are able to sell the produce bags at cost because we are a not-for-profit. You will get a quite full bag of produce featuring 9-12 varieties of grown goods. The majority are purchased from local farms and shipped to the wholesaler already.
As of November 2023, $15 is a savings of approximately 60-70% based on the same items purchased at a grocery store. Compared to Walmart online, the same bag tested one month would cost $40.
In addition, produce left over from sorting is sold for 1-2$ for as much as you can take, giving folks even more options. Even without an order, you can swing by the pickup times to get those extras (while supplies last).
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. If you request something before the pickup we can try to accomodate the customization.
Q: I’d love to give back! What volunteer opportunities are available?
Our program would not be able to run without the help of our volunteers and is mainly run by you! If you are able, we ask our Bulk Bulk participants to volunteer in the program in some capacity. We have a few different opportunities for volunteering that encourage shared responsibility and community:
- 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!
- Man the Sales Desk! Help me track bag, egg, and milk orders on a spreadsheet. I may ask for your help moving items as well.
- 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!
Q: How do I Log-in to my account?
Your username is automatically created when you make an account. It is your firstname.lastname so mine would be mackenzie.deleney. If you need help resetting your password, email bulkbuy@archway.ca and we can give you an access code.
Q: Can I get a refund on my order?
Since 100% of your spending goes toward the order unfortunately we cannot offer refunds after the ordering deadline has passed. We order a large pallet of produce on the Thursday before the pickup date. 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.
