Noah Henyon
Google
The best selection of bulk grains and dried beans, and other ingredients and spices and olive oils that I have yet to see in NYC. Located just East of 2nd ave on 4th street. I often purchase whole grain hulled barley and black beluga lentils which are difficult to find at any other organic grocery stores, where few if any whole foods stores even have these bulk items in bins. You are encouraged to use your own container or charge to save on packaging waste, and you don't have to be a member and can still receive discounts in some cases. The prices are very fair. The members that work as staff are unusually friendly and patient. If the store is crowded or there is technical error, it can be a long wait, but it is still a better store than other grocery options. Almost all of the bulk items and fruits and vegetable are organic and locally sourced (not as local as the union square greenmarket, but sourcing from local Lancaster Farms in many cases from PA), and some items such as apples can be sourced from the NYC greenmarket, at one time from the only NY State organic apple orchard.
- Be careful of the hours, as the store is only open later in the day on Wednesdays when they are re-stocking, posted on their website, and regularly opens after 12pm on most days of the week and weekend. You can conveniently call the store to confirm they are open, and confirm if anything that you want is in stock, which I often do before traveling to the store when stocking up on grains and dried goods.
- 4/24/2023, Monday, 4:30pm, stocking up with flaxseed to be milled later in my own stainless steel container from the bulk section, and looking at chocolate/cocoa options which are made without the additive soy lecithin, and noting the organic Savoura greenhouse tomatoes from Canada with compostable labels.
- 5/1/2023, Monday, now Raaka local Brooklyn factory unroasted 75% unrefined maple nib chocolate bars on sale, and I like the organic Tierra Farms dark Italian chocolate covered almonds from bin/jar, made without soy lecithin additive. 4th St Coop is still out of the bulk roasted peanuts today.