Azure Standard has been really beneficial to our homesteading efforts. As much as I’d like to try, I cannot grow everything. Leaving me with the need to fill in groceries for our family. Let’s dive into my Azure Standard review, the pros, the cons, and if I recommend it.
We want our money to go to companies we agree with. Switching over to Azure Standard has been a big blessing to our families health, and gives me peace of mind at the quality of the products they provide.
How I found Azure Standard
I have been eyeing Azure Standard for a handful of years. An acquaintance a few years back had shared it was the only way her mom shopped. I was intrigued once I stepped foot onto their website. Their quality of standards and transparency on their products is what initially encouraged me to give it a try.
In our town we don’t have a lot of options for healthy, bulk organic food.
Why I Decided to Try Azure
I cannot grow it all! As much as I wish I could, I just cannot. We have a year round garden, our own dairy, fresh eggs, and meat, but there are still items I need that my homestead cannot provide. Insert Azure Standard.
Purchasing high quality organic ingredients from your big chain grocery stores is hard, and especially hard to purchase in bulk. Azure Standard has high quality organic items at an affordable price. The price of course is higher than your junk food items, but I’d say it is worth it. Whole foods are filling, requiring less intake so I think ultimately it breaks even.
My Azure Standard Review
To be honest the entire process weirded me out at first. I am used to walking into the supermarket grabbing the items I need and leaving. With Azure Standard you have to plan ahead and there is a designated date and time for your pickup. It seemed a bit different to me to arrive early to help unload the truck with your purchase and others around you. I found that my kids love the entire experience, being part of unloading the big semi-truck is cool for them, and helpful as well.
There is a sense of community when unloading your packages from Azure unlike the grocery store where self-checkout is the standard, or worse e-cart pickup, it’s shocking if someone even acknowledges your entrance into the store. This is a benefit I wasn’t expecting to experience, humans being kind to humans.
Azure Prices Vs. Supermarket Prices
Azure Standard prices are higher than say Costco, or Walmart, but comparable to Raley’s or Trader Joes. I like that you can purchase your items in bulk, a good practice for all of us to get into the habit of doing. Less trips to the grocery store as well as food security.
Do I Think Azure Standard Is Worth it?
I do. One thing I had to get past was planning ahead, like really planning ahead. I am more of a dreamer less of a serious planner. I begin my Azure grocery list the day after I pickup my order that way all month I can add the things I know I want or need. We are a people of instant gratification, when we are out of something we run to the grocery store, with Azure Standard you definitely need to plan ahead.
To properly provide my Azure Standard Review we need to look at the pros and cons.
Azure Pros
Clean foods – After extensive research I am comfortable standing behind Azures products because of their high standards.
Price– Buying bulk organic ingredients isn’t necessarily inexpensive, but the price per pound is much better than me driving all over our small town for the items I want.
Bulk grains and other products availability –I don’t know of one store locally where I live that sells bulk organic grains, let alone all the bulk grains I like to purchase. Being able to purchase these all in one place without driving to a larger city, or high shipping costs is definitely a blessing..
Protects against inflation – Buying products in bulk allows you to lock in today’s prices.
Food Security – Enough said. I think the 2020 grocery store nightmare about sums that up. Being able to store for long periods of time definitely gives me peace of mind.
Convenience – The biggest convenience is being able to add to my cart throughout the entire month before the next drop. Making me not only more aware of what I’m putting into my cart. The convenience of being able to login and add items is helpful, and saves me a lot of gas driving all over looking for that one organic item.
Community – In your drops, you get to meet many like-minded people in your community. Much more personable than your e-cart pickup.
Less Waste and Plastic– By buying in bulk you need to store your items long term using glass containers, jars, mylar bags.
Azure Cons
Drops – Fortunately for us our drop is only about 10 minutes away, but for some it’s much further. You are at the mercy of the driver for when the drop will occur and when and you don’t get a ton of notice before.
As a stay at home mom, I have the privilege of a flexible schedule, but I understand this isn’t the case for everyone.
Be Prepared to Help – Everyone comes together and helps unload the truck, this makes for a much quicker and more efficient drop. For some this could be a deterrent.
Upfront Cost – Although you will save in the long-run ordering bulk food from Azure, it does require an upfront cost because you will be purchasing in larger quantities.
Products Seasonality – Azure ensures that its products are as fresh as possible, and they do so by trying to sell items that are in season. This can be a con or a pro, I think we should be eating in season for health reasons.
A Different Kind of Life
When we moved from California to Nevada we chose to alter our lifestyle in a huge way. I had grown up around my grandparents’ farms, but my husband had not. We moved from a busy city to a house on some acres in shambles. We settled into this homesteading lifestyle and it has been healing to my soul.
Since our move from the suburbs, we have learned and accomplished many beneficial things which help to fuel our new life quest of freedom;
- Growing a vegetable, herb, and flower garden.
- Raising and caring for thirteen egg-laying hens, and Marty the rooster..
- Milling our own grains.
- Cooking and baking with whole ingredients (including home-milled flour).
- Eating and cooking clean, organic, whole foods (most of which come from our garden).
- Making our own yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products from our dairy goat.
- Raising and processing our own meat.
- Building a long-term food storage pantry (which helps counteract inflation and ensures food security).
- Buying organic foods in bulk (through places like Azure and Farm Fresh To You) makes it more affordable to maintain a healthier diet.
Would I Recommend Trying Out Azure?
Absolutely, I think it is an excellent way to increase a healthier way of eating. By buying in bulk you are more likely to cook at home, wasting less money on eating out or random trips to the grocery store for cravings.
We didn’t dive right into Azure out first order was a little of this and a little of that to see the quality and really just understand the entire experience. After that our orders have increased, combined with our harvests from our homestead, we are able to eliminate going to big chain grocery stores almost altogether.
It’s a family friend experience, it’s great quality for an affordable price, and an easy way to encourage your family to eat healthier by buying organic bulk items.
To sum it all up my Azure Standard Review is to go for it! The quality is top notch, the prices are affordable, and it brings people together with similar interests.
Have you tried Azure Standard?
Danielle
