A Co-op Worth Checking Out

I have to be honest. The first time I ever heard of a "food co-op" was when our friend Rachel sent us information on several food co-ops. In my mind, there were two co-ops in the United States: Sam's and Costco...neither of which appealed to our family much.

And, unfortunately, I live in an area of the country that just isn't in to the whole local/organic/natural/eat-what's-good-for-you craze yet. There are thousands of acres of GMO cornfields and cotton fields, millions of corn-fed cattle on feedlots, and commercial meat processing plants everywhere.

When I heard about Azure Standard, I was quite impressed. I spent several hours browsing their extensive lists of all-natural and organic products. Then I spent a few more hours comparing prices to my local health food store. I was pleased and surprised. Azure Standard's prices beat my local store's prices on many items.

So, my husband and I thought we'd give it a try. Thankfully, Azure just started delivering to our town. We stayed up late one night to "shop" from the comfort of our bedroom. Our first order cost us a little over $100, and we got SO MUCH food!

Carrots, apples, lemons, raw milk cheese, canned pizza sauce, frozen green beans, sprouted grain tortillas...Azure's selection is very broad. They carry non-food items, books, canning supplies, heirloom seeds and organic seedlings. You'll find dairy and non-dairy milks, cheese, yogurts, and ice creams. Deodorant, toothpaste, face moisturizer, feminine hygiene items, and hand soap are also offered.

One of the things I was most excited about was their selection of bulk grains, beans, and rice. They even offer 5-gallon buckets with gamma seals to store those grains and beans in.

Their site is very easy to navigate. Before placing my first order, I spoke with a very friendly and helpful customer service representative.

As much as I enjoy the luxury of this co-op, I am writing a review and must be honest. While many of their prices were less than those of my local store, some aren't. For example, I can get brown sugar for about $2.00 cheaper in the bulk aisle of my local store than through Azure Standard. Just this evening, I was completing my April order and was curious about the flax seed meal. Azure's price seemed fair, but I called my local store, just to check. The local store was about $.65 less. Same with shredded coconut and sesame seeds.

Just a word of advice: either know your local prices before you start shopping with Azure, or call your local stores while you're shopping to compare. That way you can be sure you're getting the best price possible.

It's also very important to know that Azure's delivery rounds are once per month. You MUST have your order in by the order cut-off date to receive your products in that month's delivery. Depending on where you live, the cut-off dates are different. You will have to contact Azure personally to determine your cut-off date, delivery date, and drop point.

So what I am ordering this month???

• All of our garden seedlings! And they're certified organic. Right now, I have eggplant, squash, zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, strawberries, rosemary, mint, parsley, basil and a few other plants in my cart.
• In-season, organic apples for a fabulous price: 3 lbs. for $1.90.
• Milo for milling.
• Potato starch and baking powder.
• Canning jars and lids.

I can recommend, without reservation, Azure Standard to you. I have personally ordered from this co-op. All my items have, thus far, been in good condition upon arrival. The delivery was on time, and I even enjoyed meeting members of my community at the pick-up.

Written and submitted by Lindsey @ Penny-wise

*This review was written independently. This website is not receiving any compensation for reviews given, whether positive or negative.