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Don and Rachel Matesz <[log in to unmask]>
Next Generation Nutrition. (419) 476-2967

Paul Townley-Smith asked "How do you find or start a wholesale buying club
in your area?" In response to my posting about how much money you can save
on nuts, dried fruits, dried herbs, spices, sausages without preservatives
and fillers, organic poultry products, eco-cleaning products, and a whole
lot more.

Take notes:  If you live in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, North
Dakota, or Minnesota. call NORTH FARM COOPERATES.  1-800-230-5880, extension
4012.  If you live in Washington State, Oregan, or California, call MOUNTAIN
PEOPLE'S WAREHOUSE, (253) 333-6769.  (Sorry, I don't have the 800 # handy!)
Either way, tell them you want to find out if there are any buying club
groups in your area that might have room for another member, or ask for a
Buying Club Start-Up Package, if you know some other families that might
want to be in on one with you to buy good food and save money.

Here's how it works:  You get together a group of people, fill out some
paperwork, pay a very small fee, name your buying club, figure out whose
home will receive the once a month deliveries and whether that home has
streets wide enough to accomodate a semi pulling up and unloading.  Someone
is put in charge of typing up the orders (that are sent to the designated
personin your group and faxing or e-mailing them to the warehouse co.
Someone else has to be the treasurer (to collect everyone's $$ and write a
check when the truck arrives).  You unload and divvy up boxes as a group, or
set up a rotating schedule for each month.  You place order 1x a month and
receive your deliver 2 weeks later.  The companies listed above will fill in
the details.

It takes a little bit of work, but you can buy more organic foods for le$$,
reduce a large portion of your food bill by 30-40%, stock up on some goods
you use often, to reduce the number of trips to the store, split large items
(cases, etc.) with a friend, make new friends..... Try it, you might like
it.

Rachel Matesz