Houston bulk food stores

[soapgirlchris]

Hello,
I have been trying to eat more raw and am having a hard time due to the cost. Whole Foods seems to be the only place I can find that has bulk and raw ingredients and it is really expensive there.

Can anyone tell me if there are any stores that would carry bulk and raw foods other than Whole Foods in Houston or the surrounding areas?

I tried searching Houston in the forum, but nothing came up.

Thanks!

Chris

[PammieTaj]

I buy most of my food at Costco or the HEB down the road. I would also suggest Asian markets, but I'm not much into exotics myself and only go occasionally. You can freeze your nuts and seeds from Costco. The fruits and such are much cheaper than HEB and definitely cheaper than Whole Paycheck. Another thing that I like to support with Costco is that they are getting more and more organics. The frozen fruit is inexpensive as well.

The down to Costco - you have the annual membership fee (around $50 for a basic membership).

[Thick]

I agree that Sam's or Costco is a good place to get some things. But in Houston, you have to go to the farmers markets! There are so many, I havent been to all of them, and some are only one day a week.

There is canino's which is not organic but has so, so, so much produce and is very cheap--they even have raw cacao beans (the spice lady) Its in the heights.

Central city co-op has shares of organic produce for sale (just pay for it the week before) and also a choose your own market. They are open all day wednesday on taft and then thursday at discovery green. http://www.centralcityco-op.com/

Some stuff you might pay more for, but I always spend less than heb (heb has stuff that noone else carries like bulk nuts) and the farmers markets have all kinds of produce that the stores dont carry--like heirloom tomatoes and dinosaur kale etc..

http://www.visithoustontexas.com/visitors/farmers_markets/category.list.php

[Thick]

I'm not sure about all of the markets, but central city co-op has a small selection of raw pantry items like raw buckwheat, agave, organic spices and some raw prepared items like cookies.

After rereading your question, I'll reiterate that HEB has a huge bulk selection--and the central market heb has the biggest bulk selection ever. (but no macadamia nuts like wf) I haven't been to the new heb buffalo markets yet, but they are reputedly somewhere bewtween central market and a huge heb.

[PammieTaj]

Fiesta is good as well. Warning though - their produce is about ripe. It won't keep long at all.

[soapgirlchris]

Thank you both for the suggestions.

I hit the Central Market HEB today. Thank goodness for my GPS! I'm actually from outside Houston, but pretty close, so it wasn't too far to go. That was a great store. I could not believe all the stuff they had. The bulk section was great. My daughter tried almonds for the first time and she liked them. That was a real feat, since she is super picky.

Next on my list will be to check out Sam's since there is one of those near me. I went to Costco once back in November when I first moved here. I don't think I want to keep going in there. There was too much traffic for me since I don't know my way around in Houston really. I had not thought of the big club stores for produce.

Thick-I went to Canino's once. They sure did have tons of good looking produce, but I don't really speak Spanish and most things didn't have prices on them. I don't know enough to converse about how much things are, what things are etc. Does the Spice Lady have a sign that says her stall is the Spice Lady's? I have never had raw cacao beans and would love to try them. Do you just grind them up and use them like cocoa powder?

PammieTaj, I was wondering about Fiesta. You see so many of them off the highways and I have even seen a few commercials from them. I guess I'll skip them unless I can start freezing a lot for smoothies in case I don't get through it all.

Thanks again,

Chris

[Thick]

Thick-I went to Canino's once. They sure did have tons of good looking produce, but I don't really speak Spanish and most things didn't have prices on them. I don't know enough to converse about how much things are, what things are etc. Does the Spice Lady have a sign that says her stall is the Spice Lady's? I have never had raw cacao beans and would love to try them. Do you just grind them up and use them like cocoa powder?

There is an inside store as well as the outside vendors that has good prices (clearly marked like a grocery store)--and a cashier, too.

For the outside people..they mostly speak some english..especially, "How much?" and they will say dos (two) most of the time. You can learn the phrase for how much does it cost--"Cuanto Cuesta?" QUAN-toe QWAYS-ta--and then just point at what you want. Go with a wad of one dollar bills and you could proabaly even get away with pointing with an inquisitive look on your face and they would hold up how many fingers.

The spice lady has bags and bags and millions of cannisters of spices--and she's nearer the inside part, but still outside. Tienes Cacao? TEA-in-es

But, they all speak enough english I think to at least sell things--so don't be afraid=) If you go towards the end of the day they might give you extra & free things--or cheaper.

[Gittel]

Welcome, soapgirlchris!

I have nothing more to add. I would like to check out the Discovery Green one day, though.

Oh! there's also a farmer's market in the Rice University parking lot off of University Drive on Tuesdays starting about 4:00(?).

Did you go to the Bunker Hill Costco off of I-10 or the Galleria Costco at Richmond and Weslyan? Costco periodically has coupon books. Perhaps you went on the Sunday of the last day of a particular coupon book.

Anyway, we're glad you're here!
Gittel

[jkfarlow]

Kroger (River Oaks on West Gray)
Central Market
HEB in the Woodlands


Prices vary and Whole Foods may still be cheaper for certain items.
I also have noticed that Whole Foods has a pretty quick turnover.
Kroger bulk items seem not to be as fresh.

Happy Shopping!