By this stage of the game, most readers have probably heard mention somewhere of the Home Storage Centers operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some of you have probably visited. But for those who have never visited or for whom it has been awhile, I thought I'd provide a review and information.
It used to be that people, regular people just like you and I, would schedule appointments to go into the cannery (as we used to call it) and fill out our order forms for the items we wished to purchase. We signed in with our names and, if members of the Church, information about our ward and stake (where we attended church meetings). There would usually be about half a dozen people, maybe more in times of higher demand. (Like around election time when it looks like a Democrat is going to be elected president. That's not a slam against Democrats, it's just the facts of the way some people think.) The volunteers working there would then figure out exactly how much we customers needed to can, they gave instructions on how to operate the machinery properly, and we set to work. An hour or so later, we finished the canning, cleaned up, paid for what we purchased, and loaded up.
We also had the option of buying any item the cannery sold in bulk bags, as well as borrowing a portable #10 canner to use at home and can anything we wanted. My family and I loved doing that and it made for a great activity. The children learned a little more about food storage and its importance, and we got to can some items that would be much appreciated treats--sugar cereals, candy, hot cocoa mix, etc.
However, due to government regulations, all that has changed in the vast majority of locations. Now, there is no canner to borrow and only wheat can be purchased in bulk bags (even just a year or two ago we could also buy beans and, I think, carrots). All the canning is done in Salt Lake City and then the items are shipped to the Home Storage Center locations around the US. No one is asked to sign in. If you pay in cash, you will remain perfectly anonymous. You fill in your order form for as few or as many items as you wish to purchase, though if you wish to make a major purchase (like filling the bed of your pickup truck) you should call ahead to make sure everything is in stock.
This is the link to the current (January 2018) order form:
Home Storage Center Order Form
This is the link to the Home Storage Center locations and hours of operation:
Home Storage Center Locations
Always call in advance to make sure the schedule is current.
For those who have never visited a Home Storage Center, this is what you can expect:
As you walk in the door, a very nice person, usually a woman, will be seated behind the desk or counter and will greet you most cheerfully. You'll be directed to fill out an order form, even if it is only for one item, and you will pay for your purchase as another volunteer or two load your items onto a cart. They will then follow you to your car and load your purchases into your vehicle. That's it! And they're all very happy about helping you.
Please be aware that when demand is high, you may be limited in the amounts you are permitted to purchase. Also, you do not have to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to buy anything. No one will ask about your religious affiliation.
So what if you are just too far away from a Home Storage Center? What can you do? Well, you also have the option of buying most items online (but only by the case) and having everything shipped directly to your home. To do this, go to store.lds.org and from the options across the top of the page, select "All Categories" at the far right. One of the options on the drop down menu will be "Food Storage." Click on that, and you'll see everything you can buy. The shipping is free, but the food costs substantially more. And you can't request plain boxes, so the UPS driver knows exactly what you are getting.
I've been using the cannery and Home Storage Centers for over 30 years. Never have I found a single bug in my food. Everything has always been top-quality, though some items are not to my liking. I do not like the texture of the refried beans, possibly because I am of Mexican descent (my Mexican grandmother's ancestors were in New Mexico before the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock). I really don't like the instant potatoes (called potato pearls by some), but my family and apparently everyone at church does. The potato flakes are just fine. The hot cocoa is the best.
Most long-term storage food can definitely be purchased more inexpensively elsewhere, but you have to do the long-term packaging yourself, getting the buckets and cleaning them out, and adding the oxygen absorbers (and doing it properly). So you're paying for the service and convenience. It's nice to have everything uniform in size, in smaller cans that are more easily managed than larger buckets, and in boxes that can be easily stacked.
If you have a Home Storage Center close to you, check it out and try a few of their products. I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised.
