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I don't normally do this, but yesterday, in my health food store, I bought unsweetened carob-covered almonds from the bulk bin. They have it in one of those vertical bins with the lever that opens to let the food out. That way, you don't have to deal with the sanitary issues. I also buy nuts from another health food store that has a high turnover.

My only access to bulk food is a chain called Bulk Barn (I live in Canada, not sure they have them in the US). I love the joint - but must admit, I don't buy a lot of things that aren't being cooked (that sorta helps me on the sanitation front - even if only mentally!)

Dried beans and peas (we eat a lot of these), soup base (for emergencies!), dried spices and herbs (because they have a policy on turnover and I've never had a sample that wasn't fresh). Dried fruit - if I am going to cook with it (ie cranberries, cherries). I have resorted to their pie filling when faced with unexpected company and it wasn't half bad. Raisins for sure - my husband eats raisin bran muffins like they are going out of style.

My mother makes a lot of baked goods, and she buys their chocolate, chocolate chips, raisins, nuts, etc. So far, she has had good luck - she was leery of the chocolate due to freshness concerns, but no problem at all.

I have a big family (five children) and endeavour to make as much as possible from scratch. Bulk food is a real cost saver in my household.

Now, my step-kids, who aren't so fussy about germs, would buy garbage bag loads of their crappy bulk candy (gummy worms and the like) if we let them, but that's a couple times a year treat..... (grin)

Coffee. New products I'm not sure if I'll like. French lentils, because it's the only way I can get them right now. Gram (chickpea) flour.

I usually gasp at Whole Foods' prices, but I'll buy in bulk there quite happily. I even bring along a measuring cup if I need to, put the plastic bag in there, and only buy the quantity the recipe calls for, if it's something I probably won't be using again for months, if ever.

I've never had a problem, although I admit I feel guilty about those plastic bags.

Oh yeah, I forgot about spices! The ones I've purchased have always been super-fresh, and I try to buy a small amount at a time so they don't lose their potency. Also WAYYYY cheaper than buying the prepackaged variety.

At the co-op, they charge a few cents for plastic bags and containers in an attempt to encourage folks to bring their own reuasable containers. I think it works out pretty well.

Ooops! sorry, misunderstood the question.

I buy everything I can from the bulk section, totally love it and strongly advocate it. My only regret is that my nearest supermarket doesn't have one. So when I'm in a bulk department, I go crazy and buy everything I ever heard about. As far as impulsive shopping sprees go, it rarely costs me more than $20 when I'm finished, so I consider it a healthy weakness.

Definitely the best source for spices and dried herbs: pennies vs. the stuff in the jar, and I don't need more jars, and it's fresher. And if you're trying a new spice, or just need a tiny bit for a recipe, you can just get what you need and not have it lurking in the cabinet. also, vanilla beans.

-All kinds of nuts, plus yogurt covered pretzels, other snacks, trail mixes. I haven't yet but intend to get some fresh peanut or cashew butter.
-Rice--all types--and lentils.
-Sugars, but this is a new one for me. I bought some demerara the other day.
-Chocolate chips and baking chocolate, when available. Also cocoa powder.
-Coffee
-Orzo pasta and couscous
-Cornmeal/polenta, bulgur, other grains (barley, etc.)
-Dried fruit

One thing I don't buy is granola. I just don't eat it.

Love the olive bar too, especially for marinated garlic, peppadews, and cornichons.

After reading all of your comments, I have identified one key thing that would help me overcome my squeamishness...the bins that are filled from the top with a lever dispenser at the bottom! Come to think of it, I am able to buy Jelly Bellies that way:) Does anyone go to candy stores to buy in bulk?

am i the only one not concerned with sanitary conditions of bulk bins? a little dirt is good for you, right? I buy anything I can from bulk bins, most recently: lentils, purple sticky rice, whole wheat bread flour, and dried figs.

Like Mia Rose, I don't worry too much about this kind of stuff, especially if I'm going to cook with the ingredients I buy in bulk. I buy all my flour at the bulk store, partly because I buy flours I can't get at the grocery store (i.e. barley flour, chickpea flour), all my spices (way cheaper and fresher, as others have noted), different types of rice/pasta I can't get at grocery stores (i.e., brown basmati rice), and all sorts of nuts. I also buy my guilty pleasures there, since I can get a handful of peanut M & M's, rather than a whole bag (since I seem unable stop eating these as long I know they're around!)

One way around the plastic bag guilt is to take your own containers, have them weighed before you fill them, and then they deduct the weight of the containers from the price. I bit more of a hassle at the store, but then you don't waste the bag and don't have to fuss transferring when you get home.

We buy large bags of Stacy's Pita chips because we can't get enough of them! Not sure if you'd consider that bulk entirely though because a large bag is probably party size. It still comes from CostCo!

Hillary
Chew on That

I'm so lucky to have several 'Henrys' supermarkets to choose from. I buy flax seeds, wheat bran, oat bran,lots of spices, dates etc. Its great. I guess I'm not too squeamish, but I've noticed they've started phasing in the dispensers so your food wont be contaminated at the Park Ave location.