http://209.239.44.60/cgi-bin/store/cashcart.cgi?ACTION=enter&thispage=special.htm&ORDER_ID=!ORDERID!

is where you'll find specials on a wide variety of beans in 100lb bags, ranging from $21 for green splits to $55 for large limas, and everything in between--something for everyone. Turnaround time on 100lb bags is less than one week (as of 11/20/99).

http://www.soybean.com/y2k.htm

offers trial packs of Lumen's Y2K entrees at $4.95. Buckets of 250-serving entrees are priced from $17.95 for Chicken Noodle Dinner to $21.87 for Beef Stroganoff to $28.12 for Chunky Chicken Stew. (Packed in mylar with oxy absorbers, good for five years minimum.) Turnaround time on Y2K orders is approximately four weeks (check via phone or e-mai for exact current status.)

http://www.soybean.com/

Lumen's non-Y2K soy products (which have a long shelf life) are shipped within 48 hours of ordering. Sample packs are available. (Also includes dried beans and grains and dehydrated fruits and vegetables.)

http://209.239.44.60/cgi-bin/store/cashcart.cgi?ACTION=enter&thispage=nongmo1.htm&ORDER_ID=!ORDERID!

showcases Lumen's non-genetically modified soy products.

You might want to try the sample packs before you commit to large quantities.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), November 20, 1999

Answers

Remember, though, when you order these "bargains," you have to pay shipping. It well could double the price of that 100 lbs. of beans by the time it gets to your door.

Why not just order from your local grocer and let him pay the shipping? I recently got a 25# bag of whole green peas (for sprouting) from the grocer for $7.15. He made a couple bucks on the deal and it came with his regular shipment. They usually have sources for larger quantities of dried food goods. You can also order a gallon of Kiko soy sauce for about $15.00. What a savings...

jw

-- j werner (jwerner15@hotmail.com), November 20, 1999.

j, I would never knowingly recommend a company with unreasonable shipping charges or other such charges. Lumen uses standard UPS shipping charges. Incidentally, as a vegetarian I have been ordering from Lumen for about 10 years and have so far found their products and services more than satisfactory.

The green splits mentioned work out to 21c/lb. I don't know what the shipping would be--it would depend on quantity, destination and method--but I doubt it would exceed grocery store prices, especially when sales tax is factored in.

In addition, there are people who can no longer drive (like myself) or who are short of time and who find the convenience of delivery a boon. And also people (like myself) whose local supermarkets discourage special orders by practicing great inefficiency in that area.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), November 20, 1999.

Git,

I was just trying to point out that there are alternative ways folks could obtain heavy, relatively cheap foodstuffs such as beans from local sources and avoid paying UPS charges.

I occasionally ship 35# boxes from Nebraska to California and the UPS regular ground charge on that box is over $21.00. Now if it contained beans, that would make them pretty darned expensive.

I guess I'm lucky to have a good grocer in my small town who thinks nothing of ordering bulk amounts for his customers. He even will deliver groceries at no charge to people who can't get out of their houses. And he even saves old vegetables for me to give to my pigs.

I'm also a member of a local food co-op which orders bulk items every few months or so, and shipping is very low because several people order at one time.

jw

-- j werner (jwerner15@hotmail.com), November 20, 1999.

A four-week turnaround time would just barely squeak in before the rollover...time to prep is truly almost gone.

-- helen (sstaten@fullnet.net), November 20, 1999.

For New Englanders you can buy preps from New England Storehouse http://www.mv.com/ipusers/nestorehouse/index.html Tom Villeneve is one of the owners.

I have purchased beans, wheat and corn from them. Good clean products at reasonable prices. You drive to their site and pick up the products you want.

(No I do not work for them or own stock)

-- ExCop (yinadral@juno.com), November 23, 1999.