Many people have asked if it were acceptable to package several individual packs of food in one bucket. Many of us have done that. But, Ive never seen combination packages offered commercially.

Until this morning, that is, when I was browsing a few food supplier sites, looking for some of the rather short shelf life items that I want to add to my stores.

One supplier -- NRV Bulk Foods is offering six combination bucket packages: Breakfast Pack, Organic Breakfast Pack, Organic Bread Pack, Baking Pack, Spice Pack and Fruit/Nut Pack.

Each consists of from 3 to 5 pounds each of 5 or 6 items, individually packed in vacuum sealed plastic bags, then sealed in a 5-gallon bucket, with a screw-on resealable lid. Prices range from $30 for the organic breakfast pack to $43 for the fruit/nut pack.

I dont work for these people -- although I have purchased from them and would recommend them. In my case, since they are located in SW Virginia (South of Roanoke) it was easy for me to order and then pick up the order, saving freight.

Id have some concerns about the ability of the plastic bags to preserve oxygen tightness for several years if it were my intent to keep the food that long. But, even with flour in some of the packs they should be good for a couple of years. Anyway, its a well thought out concept IMO. If its something that interests you, take a look at their site.

-- de (delewis@inetone.net), July 27, 1999

Answers

I thought about this and did this earlier this year. That way, WHEN I need to give food to others, then I can just hand them a bucket and off they go, instead of them watching me dig out 5 pounds of this and a pound of that, remembering what all I have stocked away. They are probably not as fancy, my breakfast buckets have mainly rolled oats, salt, brown sugar and powdered milk. All you need for breakfast (minus the fruit), or to stay alive.

-- nobody (nobody@nowhere.com), July 27, 1999.