Shop Smart and Eco-Friendly

BD PROVISIONS IN SEVERNA PARK OFFERS SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE GROCERY OPTIONS

Walking into BD Provisions feels like walking into a grown-up candy store. Shoppers are greeted by an ample, homey space, the scent of freshly ground coffee in the air, and row upon row of giant barrels of quality dry goods, all available to buy as much or as little as they want.  

Stores like BD Provisions are an easy way to make grocery shopping more eco-friendly and lower overall waste, especially in single-use plastic. All the containers BD Provisions carries are either reusable or compostable.   

Don’t be fooled by the word “bulk” in the store marketing. Think of it this way: they buy in bulk, so you don’t have to. Have a recipe that calls for five Goji berries, one tablespoon fleur de sel, or three cups of cocoa powder? At BD Provisions, you can buy only what you need, saving money and eliminating food waste.    

How do bulk groceries work?  

I was a little intimidated the first time I shopped at BD Provisions. Luckily, the staff was incredibly kind and patient and walked me through the process.   

Customers can bring their containers (any container), which staff will weigh and label before filling, so the weight can be deducted at checkout. If you don’t bring containers, you can purchase a variety (about $2-4).   

Products are separated into sections: coffee, spices/tea, home/personal goods, dry goods, gluten-free and sugar-free, nuts, snacks, candy, olive oil, and kinds of vinegar. The store also features local goods, such as eggs, honey, and handmade pottery. They also offer seasonal specials—fall and Halloween products coming soon, college care packages available now—and pre-mixed kits for making soup, cocktails, cookies, and cakes.  

Customers fill and label the containers themselves using scoops provided with each barrel. Then, mark the containers with the product number for checkout (stickers and markers supplied throughout the store).   

Another draw for foodies is the in-store roasted coffee, with about a dozen varieties. Roasting happens on Saturday mornings around 11 a.m. if you want the freshest possible beans, and it’s also an excellent experience for the kids to watch the beans spin and toast.  

Staff members are happy to assist if customers want to sample a product.   

Is it pricey?  

I hear you, moms—sometimes your store choice comes down to cost, right? We can Want all the feel-good feelings about reducing plastic waste and supporting a small business, but we also need to pay attention to those dollars. I did some tasty research and created a graphic below, comparing BD’s prices with a traditional grocery store (Harris Teeter in Severna Park) for comparison). 

Welcome to the neighborhood  

Co-owners Debra Saltz and Phil Peters have already begun hosting local events in their space and plan on more to come. September 8, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., they are co-hosting a pop-up market with the Good Neighbor Group to support local businesses and charities (including adoptable dogs and cats). On September 13, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., they will host a Roast and Toast Networking Event.   

“Anyone who wants to do an event here, we’re happy to host it,” Saltz says. “We hope to get more of these types of events.”  

BD Provisions is located at 844 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD 21146, and is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Annapolis Moms’ Jeff Peri shares his recipe for an outstanding trail mix that can be made with ingredients purchased at BD Provisions!