What's in Bulk? Who's on First?

A Multiple Choice Quiz

by Lisa Vine

Question I

Choose the best answer.

1. Which of the following items is not available in bulk?
a. Spelt flour
b. Raw hulled organic sunflower seeds
c. Extra virgin organic olive oil
d. Jelly
e. Basmati rice

Correct answer? This was a trick question. All items are available in bulk, including jelly. Jelly? Yes, right next to the peanut butters (think PBJ). The Co-op carries apple cider jelly from Wood’s Cider Mill, located in southeastern Vermont. The jelly is the dark amber jiggly stuff in the clear glass jar to the back right of the peanut butters; scoop it out with the white plastic spoon resting in the plastic container behind it.

Jelly? This is not the purple mass-produced corn syrup-sweetened product available at your local chain grocery store. It’s also not the sugar-added product available if you’re willing or able to spend more than 99 cents for 32 oz. of purple sweetness. Apple cider jelly requires no extra sugar, as the slow boiling process takes advantage of the pectin in the apples and condenses the apple cider to jelly naturally. Nine gallons of cider boil down — or rather, evaporate — to produce one gallon of jelly. If you’re interested in the source of this product, apple cider is also available in bulk, in the liquids. Apple cider jelly is a throwback, a product of cider mills and common in the 1800s. Very few places produce it anymore. Wood’s Cider Mill, according to the website, has been producing this Cider Jelly for over a century — since 1882 — using the original press. Wood’s Cider Mill is in Springfield (Vt.), 95 miles away, so this product fits by five miles into the hundred-mile diet.

People who are loyal to the macintosh apple will really like this jelly, which is tart and complex and made from macintosh apples. But any apple aficionado will appreciate the strong apple presence here. A friend commented that this is the sort of jelly that would be good to put into a fancy jar and give to someone as a present. The jelly is good with peanut butter, on warm toast and on bagels. Sources: www.woodscidermill.com.

Question II

Choose the best answer.

1. Which of the following items is not available in bulk?
a. Rice flour
b. Gingersnap granola
c. Maple syrup
d. Chunks of energy
e. Sweet rice

Correct answer? This was another trick question. All items are available in bulk, including chunks of energy. Who knew? Chunks of energy? Yes, and in four different flavors: Carob Spirulina, 18 Carob Supergreens, Carob Banana and Mixed Berry Blast. Dancing Star Company in Springfield (Vt.) has been producing these inch-size cubes of nutrition since 1992. For those interested in following the hundred-mile diet, these items are produced 64 miles from Albany. Chunks of energy are what the name indicates: cubes of power-packed nutrition and, because these items are available in bulk, Co-op shoppers can purchase as many or as few as desired, and do so without purchasing extra packaging. These are not treats for those with nut allergies, however, and those with severe gluten allergies should also be wary: These chunks are made in a facility where gluten may be present.

Carob Spirulina is one of the most popular flavors and the list of ingredients supports its claim to being a chunk of energy: sunflower seeds, honey, carob powder, peanuts, sesame seeds, nutty rice cereal, pumpkin seeds, cashews, peanut butter, unsulphured pineapple, unsulphured papaya, Hawaiian spirulina (blue green algae) — hence the name — gluten-free vanilla powder and soy lecithin. This translates into a lot of energy: Two chunks (1 oz.) of Carob Spirulina supply 130 calories and four grams of protein, according to the company’s website.

Likewise, the 18 Carob Supergreens contains a rich blend of ingredients. The website lists sunflower seeds, honey, carob powder, peanuts, nutty rice cereal (brown rice, raisin juice from concentrate, rice bran, sea salt), peanut butter, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed meal, organic greens mix (more on this later), Nutrex Hawaiian spirulina (blue green algae), unsulphured pineapple, gluten free hazel nut extract, natural vanilla flavor (alcohol free) and other natural flavors (alcohol free). That organic greens mix boasts an impressive list of ingredients, all under the moniker of “super greens”: organic alfalfa juice concentrate, organic wheatgrass concentrate, organic barley grass concentrate, organic oat grass concentrate, spirulina (65% protein), cracked cell chlorella, organic dandelion greens, organic broccoli, organic spinach, organic kale, organic parsley, organic cauliflower, organic three-day-old broccoli sprouts, sea kelp, sea dulse, sea vegetables and stevia (95% steviasides).

Are you asking yourselves at this point what spirulfina is? Good question. Spirulina is the common name for food supplements produced from two species of cyanobacteria — cyanobacteria — also known as blue-green algae. According to the website dedicated to the topic (www.spirulina.com), it’s a vegetable protein — a complete protein, because over half of it is amino acids — full of beta carotene, iron, vitamin B-12 and the fatty acid GLA. And it’s got a long history of fans, dating back to the Mayans, according to wikipedia.

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