Monday, November 24, 2008

My New Way To Grocery Shop

Well, we've had so much change lately I decided to try out a new way of grocery shopping: Azure Standard. Andrew's parents have used them for a couple of years. They are based out of Durfur, Oregon and deliver all over the Northwest. Often people set up a co-op, or some people operate as an independent drop point but either way you order your food online and it is delivered via semi-truck to the drop point.

This isn't just any food mind you. They carry the good stuff: organic, healthy, "Life Source" quality brands, etc. Once I decided to go for it I had to quickly place my order online as the deadline was that day! Then I looked for a close drop point, there are three co-ops in Salem but one is closed since it has too many people, and one was a little grouchy and said she'd only let me drop there if I joined her co-op. The other I couldn't reach. But, since I was so close to the minimum order to actually be a drop point myself, I decided to add a few things and became an official drop point myself. It's always nerve racking the first time you try something but you still gotta try it.
Less than a week later I got the call that the truck was on schedule (they have an order placement schedule and a delivery schedule so you can know when to expect your shipment). Then we set off to meet at our designated spot. I knew the semi couldn't make it up our hill to my front door so we arranged to just met out at the road. He loaded my car with all the boxes and the kids and I used the dolly to unload back at home. It was like a grocery shoppers Christmas opening up all those boxes of just what I wanted. There was no breakage or spoilage. I got wonderful sparkling juice, yummy bread, apples, potatoes, mixes for brownies and pizza dough, yogurt, cottage cheese, hummus, ice cream... The list goes on. They have such great variety and it's all the good stuff at reasonable prices! They even have sales.

By the way, if anyone is interested in ordering from Azure Standard and using us as a drop point let me know. The company will check with me to make sure I have approved it first. There is a minimum $50 order and your order will be packaged and labelled together for easy pick up.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds really cool! I am going to check it out! I am excited that it is organic.

Anonymous said...

That sure saves trips to the store. And less time consuming. Great idea.

Anonymous said...

This is too cool! What a treat for the whole family, I bet the kids had such a blast. It sure beats the whole grocery store grind too. Melaney

Anonymous said...

Yes! I hate grocery shopping. We did a little today to get stuff for tomorrow... like a turkey! I was reminded how nice it was to just order online and then run out to the truck. No hassle, no kids running in front of other people's carts, no carts poking my sensitive belly, no lines, no indecent magazines that prompt embarrasing questions... The list goes on!

Lord, lift me above my own narrow horizons, that I might fulfill your true vision for me. - B.J. Hoff