Does Grains Plus have a storefront and inventory? [back to top]
To keep costs low, Grains Plus does not have a storefront and does not keep an inventory. However, Bosch Mixers and Wheat Grinders can be ordered any time.
When can I place an order? [back to top]
Every couple of months I put out a new flier for Grains Plus. There are aproximately 4 grain orders and always chocolate in October.
How do I place an order and receive my items from Grains Plus? [back to top]
Ordering:
Soon, you will be able to order online using our online form. Until this improvement is implemented, please print out the current order form. Just print in out, fill in, and mail it to us with a check. Fliers will also be mailed or e-mailed out one month before an order is due to those customers already on our mailing list. You must order by the deadline listed on the website/flier. Payment is also due when you place your order. If you happen to miss the order deadline call or email me ASAP. I will do my best to get your order in to my vendor; however, I cannot guarantee this.
Pick Up/Distribution:
I will call you when the shortly before the order comes in. Your items will be available for pick up approximately 4-5 weeks after the order deadline. Distribution is on Friday and Saturday for three hours (times vary depending on the season). Please choose a half hour time slot (e.g., 9:30-10:00). You may come any time in that half hour. To help remind you I always enclose a reminder slip with the flier. This slip has a place to write your pick up time and also gives directions to the pick up location. Please post this somewhere where you will remember. It really helps me when you are on time.
When do I pay for my order? [back to top]
Payment is due by the order deadline. If for some reason this is a problem, please call me so we can work something out.
What payment methods are accepted? [back to top]
Cash, check, credit or debit. If you wish to pay with a credit or debit card the transaction will occur through PayPay. There is a 3% fee for this service.
What if I miss my appointment to pick up my items? [back to top]
If you miss your appointment, and it is before 12:00 noon, PLEASE STILL COME. It is a lot easier to have you come at an unscheduled time than make an appointment to meet you another day. Please note the pick up times, as I would hate for you to show up at 1:00 p.m. and not be there. I am usually there until 12:00 p.m.
What if I am going to be out of town during distribution? [back to top]
If you are going to be out of town I can hold onto your order for you. If it is convenient, you can have one of your kids, your husband, or a friend pick up your order for you. Make a note of this on your order form, call, or email me. If none of these options work, please call me as soon as you return to schedule a pick up.
Where is pick up? [back to top]
All orders are picked up at my house. The address is 14126 East Buffalo Street, Gilbert, AZ 85295. For a map click on contact us.
What if I don’t see something I need on the order form? [back to top]
If you need something that is not on the order form, please contact me. I can often get the item or a similar item.
What if I want to store my food in buckets when I pick it up? [back to top]
If you want to bucket your food when you pick it up you need to order the buckets in advance on the order form. I may or may not have extra buckets available at pick up. To figure out how much will fit in a bucket, see below. This will help you determine what size bucket you need to buy. Please note that the bucket prices do not include a lid. You have the option of a regular lid or the screw on Gamma Lid. At pick up I have CO2 available for you to gas your buckets. This charge ranges from $0.50 to $0.75 per bucket depending on the size.
How much fits in a bucket? [back to top]
If you have questions about how much will fit in a bucket send me a quick e-mail or give me a call, leslie@grainsplus.com or 480-218-4877
What if want to can my food products when I pick them up? [back to top]
If you want to can your products you must mark a C (or click the checkbox on the online order form) next to the item you want to can. I will determine how many cans you need for that product and the cans will be there when you come. The cost is $1.40 per can and payment for the cans is required at pick up. I do not allow you to pre-pay for cans, because the number you use may vary. If you want to can you must bring someone to help you. We will most likely we will not have people available to help you. I have only one small hand canner and canning is very labor intensive and time consuming. Because only one canner is available, I will do my best to schedule only one person per time slot, but that is not a guarantee. Please keep this in mind if you want to can a lot of food. The Mesa Cannery is another option if you want to can a lot of food. This can be a quicker process and not as labor intensive.
What is the best way to store my food? (Cans vs. Buckets) [back to top]
Cans and buckets both have pros and cons. Here are some of each:
Cans: Canning is very labor intensive, time consuming, expensive, and the cans are not reusable. However, cans are easy to store and transport.
Buckets: Buckets are reusable, quick and easy to fill, they come in various sizes, and the contents are easily accessible if you purchase a Gamma Seal lid.
What if my item does not come in becuase it is out of stock? [back to top]
Unfortunately, this is out of my control. I am unaware that items are backordered until I get the items and do a complete inventory. Because of this, I am often unable to notify you of an out of stock item until pick up. If you have an item that did not come in we will refund your money and you will have the opprtunity to purchase it on the next order.
What is the return policy? [back to top]
All sales are final unless a product is defective. If a product is defective you must notify me within 30 days of the distribution date. If you are particularly unhappy with an item you have purchased please call me and we will work it out.
Can you ship items? [back to top]
It is possible for me to ship some items, although you will be responsible for all shipping costs. Please contact me directly for shipping rates.
Do you offer gift certificates? [back to top]
Yes, we do. They make a great gift and are available in any increment. Please call me to order.
How long will my food storage last? [back to top]
One of the most common questions about food storage is, "How long will it stay fresh on my shelf?" This is a very relevant question when maintaining your food storage. A simple answer is, "It depends on how fresh you want your food to be."
Food stored in cans does not last forever. For food stored at room temperature, a 5 year shelf life is a good common rule of thumb for dehydrated and semi-perishable food. Although the food won't spoil for many more years, it begins to lose its nutritional value. Perishable foods and dehydrated dairy products store for about 2 years. These include foods such as bottled fruits, powdered milk, dehydrated eggs and butter, and dry dessert mixes. However, if you store any of your food storage at a cooler temperature, you can greatly increase the shelf life.
There are several important factors which influence shelf life and are important to consider in a food storage program: temperature, humidity, packaging, irradiation by sunlight, insects, rodents, and chemicals.
The cooler your storage, the longer the food will maintain quality.
Temperature: Storage temperature is one of the most important factors. A general rule is the lower the temperature, the longer the shelf life. Storing your food in the garage with a room temperature of 90 degrees should expect a shelf life less than half of what could be obtained at room temperature (60-70 degrees) which is in turn less than half the storage life as cold storage (40 degrees).
Humidity: High humidity increases perishability of many foods. Because a lot of food storage is dehydrated, it is logical to store your food in a dry place. Dampness may also cause containers to rust.
Packaging Material: Food should only be stored in food-grade containers. This is a container that will not transfer non-food chemicals and contains no hazardous chemicals. Containers not approved for food use are trash or garbage bags, paint cans, and industrial plastics that have been used for non-food purposes.
Irradiation by Sunlight: Irradiation by sunlight can induce physical and chemical changes in food.
Protection from Insects, Rodents and Chemicals: Non-food household chemicals should not be stored in the same area with food. To prevent insect contamination, store your food off the floor and away from damp places. Keep all foods stored in tight, insect-proof containers and make sure the lids are tight-fitting. Using CO2 or Oxygen absorption packets to remove the oxygen will prevent weevils from hatching out in your food, and will help preserve flavor.
Study: Quality of Nonfat Dry Milk after Long-Term Storage
A study was done at Utah State University in Logan, UT where they tested the quality of dry milk after long-term storage. Here are some of their results:
• Nonfat dry milk stored at 90 degrees Fahrenheit began to develop "off-flavors" by 6 months and considered unacceptable (oxidized and stale) after 2 years.
• Nonfat dry milk stored at 70 degrees Fahrenheit was considered unacceptable (oxidized and stale) after 4 years.
• Nonfat dry milk stored at 50 degrees Fahrenheit resulted in minimal flavor changes after 52 months.
This study is just one example of the effects that time have on food storage items. Every food is different. Keep this in mind as you are rotating the food. Make sure you mark the dates of each so you will be able to keep track of how old the food is. And always remember that you can store your food for the maximum amount of time, but how fresh do you want it to taste?
For more information you can visit this link: http://www.waltonfeed.com/grain/life.html