Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about 2009 Group Buy
Q: When can I expect my order to be delivered?
(Written Oct. 30:)
Orders placed before Oct. 15 are shipping starting Oct. 31, but we are waiting on a few items and ironing out the kinks in the group-buy process, as it is much bigger this year (more people, more items) and we have just transitioned to a new online store (bad timing!). So, your order may not arrive until Nov. 15 (but most will arrive by Nov. 8 unless you ordered nuts/seeds other than almonds, which we are waiting for right now). Please notify us only if you have not received your order by Nov. 15. (Keep in mind that if you ordered prior to Oct. 1, we were putting the group buy together and weren’t quite ready yet. So while your orders are the first to go out, it does make it a long time from ordering to shipping.
Orders placed Oct. 16-31 will arrive by Nov. 30.
Orders placed Nov. 1-15 will arrive by Dec. 15.
Orders placed Nov. 16-30 will arrive by Dec. 20.
This has been a big undertaking, and it will be smoother next year! This is not like ordering something from Amazon, where a store has it in stock and can ship within 48 hours. We collect all the orders for two weeks, order in bulk (to achieve the pricing) from each vendor, and can ship only when all those items arrive. So the upside is great pricing on products that aren’t easy to obtain, but the downside is a bit of a wait. Thank you for your patience!
Q: Are the almonds shelled?
A: Yes. You can just eat them right out of the box. I recommend soaking them overnight, draining the water, and dehydrating them below 116 degrees. Then they are live food with 200% more fiber and nutrients (enzyme inhibitors in the nut are unlocked when you soak them 8 hours). See
for my recommendation about the best dehydrator for preserving live food.
Q: I want almonds but not in those larger quantities. Where can I buy 10 lbs.?
A: Check out this blog entry on Robyn’s Blog:
http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/blog/,
and let others know where you are and how to contact you. Maybe someone will contact you who wants to “go in” on an order, or someone will tell you about a co-op in your area buying and breaking down into smaller quantities.
Q: I want to be part of a co-op and don’t know where to find one or how to start one. How do I do that?
A: See my blog here for some tips:
http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/blog/
Q: How long do almonds keep, and how should I store them?
A: These almonds are coming right out of the tree in October and will therefore be very fresh. (The other items in the buy are very fresh as well.) They should keep 9-12 months in the pantry, but if you would like to store them longer than that, plan on them keeping in tightly sealed bags or jars in the fridge for 18-24 months, and indefinitely in the freezer. They will germinate (sprout, or unlock enzyme potential after soaking) after they have been frozen with very little loss of nutrition.
Q: When does the order close?
A: We will close this order Nov. 30, 2009. There is the possibility that some items (especially raw almonds) will sell out before then. We do have plenty of supply lined up and don’t anticipate this happening in the first month of the order (October), so please don’t feel you have to order the minute you got the GreenSmoothieGirl.com newsletter kicking the group buy off. Go ahead and take the time to gather your group’s order. If you are reading later than Nov. 30, 2009, you can attempt to place an order and only items we can still obtain will show in the store.
Q: How can I find out about group orders you do in the future?
A: Get on the free newsletter on GreenSmoothieGirl.com, which is the main place I communicate about that. I also blog about group buys, classes I’m teaching, and more on Robyn’s Blog on the site.
Q: Who do I make the check out to?
A: Make the check to GNGB. Send it to 51 W. Center #345, Orem, UT 84057. I prefer a check, but you also have PayPal and credit cards as options.
Q: I am collecting checks from lots of people. Can I send them all to you?
A: No (sorry, this was a nightmare the first year we did this group buy). Please have people make the checks out to you, and you mail one check, from you, made out to GNGB.
Q: Do I have to be a co-op or put together a group to buy?
A: No. Anyone can purchase.
Q: Can I add to my order later?
A: The store we are using doesn’t allow that. Please hold your order until you think it is complete. We understand if you have stragglers come into your group order later, but if you add on, you will need to place a second order, which starts your shipping rate over at $1.25/lb for orders below 100lbs and $.75/lb for orders above 100 lbs. I like to order extra of popular items when I do a group buy, because I always have people come to me after the order closes wanting to purchase. But of course it’s up to you whether you want to take that risk. You can email your group what items you have left over—as my group has grown, the size of it allows me to take risk like that because someone will always buy the extra I bought, and I will always have people ask me later, when the buy closes, whom I cannot accommodate.
Q: What if I am in Utah—how do I avoid paying for shipping?
A: Enter LOCAL in the Order Summary Special Code field and you will not be charged shipping. You will then get an email when your order is ready to pick up in Lindon, Utah towards the end of October. You will be asked to write back and tell us what day you want to pick up your order, and we will have it out for you (marked with your name) that day. You will receive driving directions on where to pick up.
Q: What is the tax rate that will be added to all Utah orders?
A: 0.0625%
Q: How much is shipping?
A: If you order 1-99 lbs. of any items in the buy, your shipping cost will calculate at $1.25/lb. For orders of 100-599 lbs. of any items in the buy, your shipping is $0.75/lb. For an order of 600-1,099 lbs., shipping is $0.50/lb. And orders totaling 1,100 lbs. or more, shipping goes down to $0.25/lb. For the larger orders, we may ship by truck instead of UPS, in which case you may receive a phone call to coordinate delivery.
Q: What are the shipping rates for Alaska and Hawaii?
A: Due to the increase in cost of shipping to these states shipping to Alaska and Hawaii is $2/ lb. We have to add this manually in the system so please email Jenni at support123@greensmoothiegirl.com to get your shipping rates corrected on your order.
Q: When will my order ship?
A: We will ship orders received by Oct. 15 by the end of October. After that, allow up to 30 days for shipping.
Q: Why is my shipping charge a couple dollars more than I had calculated?
A: Every order is charged a $2 handling fee.
Q: How can I get my shipping lower?
A: Shipping isn’t expensive for orders of 1,100 lbs. or more. Rates are based on averages nationwide and are a breakeven for the shipper. These group buy items are heavy/bulky.
Q: I am a business. Can I have my order delivered there?
A: Yes, and please make a note of that in your order. Delivering large orders to a business is easier for us, as some trucks have difficulty delivering to some neighborhoods.
Q: Is this legal?
A: Of course. The California law does allow for a rancher to sell you no more than 100 lbs. per day directly. We are facilitating that opportunity with this group buy. (Keep in mind that the law isn’t preventing you from buying—it is placing restrictions on ranchers from selling.) The almond growers are very unhappy with this two-year old law, which incurs cost for them, and they sued the government (but lost). I believe they will eventually regroup and try legal measures again. Meanwhile, Draconian government tactics to fumigate, irradiate, and pasteurize our food supply will continue to be an issue and will protect us from few if any health “risks,” since raw plant food is our insurance against disease. Pasteurizing and irradiating will serve only to destroy enzymes, the life-giving force, in raw food, and consequently damage the public health.
Q: Which items are Organic?
A: Agave, coconut oil, flaxseed, shredded coconut, and dried apricots. The honey isn’t certified organic because bees can range for several miles (possibly going into areas with sprayed plants) but the beekeeper does not use any chemicals on his property. Robyn is also working on adding an Organic Almond option.
Q: Are the almonds organic?
A: Some of the items (labeled as such) in the group buy are organic. The almonds are not organic (as that would be about $8/lb.), but keep in mind that as tree nuts, they are shelled after any spraying, and not all the almond growers we use spray at all. I feel that it’s important to try to obtain “dirty dozen” produce organic whenever possible, and that we should wash other organic produce well. But since almonds are shelled afterward, and since we soak them to sprout them, I don’t feel the price difference for organic almonds is worth it for people on a budget.
Q: Where are the organic raw almonds from?
A: Spain. We were unable to find an organic rancher in California who would provide raw as well, but we were able to get a great price!
Q: Are the almonds fumigated or irradiated or GMO?
A: No, no, and no. Please keep your almonds in an airtight bag or jar, or in the fridge or freezer to keep pests out of them.
Q: What can I do with my almonds?
A: I eat almonds almost every day because they’re such an easy snack, plain. I also teach uses for them in Ch. 7 of 12 Steps to Whole Foods on GreenSmoothieGirl.com and include several recipes for savory, sweet, and spicy sprouted almonds. You can also search Robyn’s Blog on GreenSmoothieGirl.com for free recipes I have posted there on how to sprout and flavor your almonds. I use almonds in my two granola recipes (see Ch. 11). Your can also soak almonds overnight and then blend them in a ratio of 1:4 almonds:water in your turbo blender until very smooth, for a nutritious “milk” to replace dairy milk in your cereal. (Strain the milk if you don’t like pulp in it. Add a little vanilla if you want.)
I have written about the uses and nutritional benefits of each of the items in the group buy on the site. Just click on the “Group Buy” tab at the top of the GreenSmoothieGirl.com homepage, and you’ll see each item available.
Q: Will all the items ship together, with the almonds?
A: Yes.
Q: Are the organic apricots and organic shredded coconut preserved?
A: No, they are sulfite free!
Q: What is the agave brand?
A: Glorybee (they have rigid organic and raw certification).
Q: Are the chopped dates rolled in oat flour (not acceptable for celiacs)?
A: Yes.
Q: What containers are the olive oil gallons in? Is the oil cold pressed, first pressing?
A: Tins. I am told they will keep 15 years or more, but to be safe, I would suggest that you plan to rotate it within 5 years. It is first-pressing, very green, extra virgin olive oil.
Q: The honey in the group buy photo doesn’t look raw. Is it?
A: It’s just a stock image. The honey were are procuring for the group buy is totally raw.
Q: Is the honey heated at all? Is it dark and thin, or creamy and thick?
A: It’s thick. Sometimes somewhat crystallized, which all raw honey will do. NO heat is used whatsoever. (If it’s dark and thin, it’s been heat treated.)
Q: Are walnuts and cashews pieces, or whole?
A: Walnuts are halves and cashews are large pieces.
Q: Are the flax seeds golden or brown?
A: Brown