This was a post about ordering from NutsOnline.com, but even their wholesale prices aren't any better than what we can get locally. I don't think we'll go through with this order. Sam's Club has nonorganic but raw walnuts and almonds for about $4-5 a pound, in 3 pound bags, if nonorganic is okay with you (it usually is for me, but I'm rethinking it after what I read, link below). I've been getting them there for years. They're the best price I've found for conventional raw nuts, even online, even in bulk.
If you're looking for organic, though, we may still have a good deal available. There's an organic almond farm in California who will ship directly to us. Their prices look great. With shipping figured in, their walnut prices are $5 a pound, and their almonds, which are raw, organic AND unpasteurized, are $8.25 (shipping already added). Contrast that with NutsOnline, where raw (pasteurized) almonds are $14 a pound by the bag, $10 a pound if we buy wholesale. The conventional walnuts were $5.50 if bought by the case. (before shipping costs are added)
Not everyone knows this, but since 2007, "raw" almonds in the U.S. must be pasteurized. This includes (1) exposure to steam heat sufficient to raise the surface temperature of the almond kernels to about 200°F or (2) insertion of the kernels into a closed chamber where they are exposed to propylene oxide gas (fumigation with propylene oxide is not allowed in the processing of almonds if the almonds are going to be sold as certified organic). Propylene oxide is classified by the EPA as a probable human carcinogen. So I may rethink the idea that nonorganic is okay with almonds, as my bag does not indicate which method was used. Almond growers can receive exemption to this law if they will only be selling their almonds directly to customers at local markets, with a limit of 100 pounds per person per day in direct farmer's market sales.
Sounds like they're getting around the pasteurization law by selling directly to the consumer.
So these prices are not better than you could get by buying raw almonds and walnuts at Sam's Club. I recommend Sam's as your best bet if conventional is okay (they also have raw pecans). But these do seem to be exceptional prices for organic.
So, here's what we'll have:
60 pounds of shelled, raw, organic unpasteurized almonds at $8.25 per pound.
50 pounds of shelled raw walnuts at $5 per pound. (not certified organic - I just contacted them to clarify about their walnuts, as they aren't labeled organic. Only the almond side of their farm is certified organic, not the walnuts, but it sounds like it's more of a certification issue than any practices they use. It's all on the same property. Which also happens to be run on wind power.)
Shipping has already been figured in, so this is your final actual price on these.
Sorry to switch on you, but this is going to be cheaper and easier than the nutsonline purchase.
So, what's the interest in these almonds and walnuts? Even if you've already sent in an answer with the nutsonline purchase, let me know again, as I don't want to assume that you'd want the same amount of these.
Orders:
Brenda 10 pounds Walnuts 10 pounds Almonds
Laura-Lan 5 pounds Walnuts 5 pounds Almonds
Beth 5 pounds Walnuts 10 pounds Almonds
Laura C 20 pounds Walnuts 20 pounds Almonds
Kathy 3 pounds Walnuts 3 pounds Almonds
Almonds: 48
Walnuts: 43
No comments:
Post a Comment