I don't know how to make links, but I do buy seeds from www.bulkfoods.com, and flavored vinegar, spices and vitamins from Drfuhrman.com.

I have bought some things online-- but the local grocery stores and health food stores are carrying so much more these days there's very little I can't get locally.

I am also a fan of the amish hulless popcorn. I have also bought olive oil online, whole grain pastas (I like bio naturae and de cecco), Bob's Red Mlll 10-grain waffle mix, spices and freeze dried herbs. Most of these things are available locally now.

I would buy lots online if Trader Joe ever opens an internet commerce site.

No, I haven't, but, hope others chime in with all their good experiences! I am trying to eat healthier and have was disappointed when I brought up Trader Joes on the internet and we can't buy from them.

Penzeys has the BEST spices and herbs. I've also bought country ham and slab bacon online before but I can't remember where - it was a little smokehouse I saw on the Food Network. I can get country hams up here but only whole ones, and you know what the definition of eternity is, don't you? Two people and a ham. LOL I was able to get a quarter ham from this place and it was still a job getting through it all, especially since it was too strong and tough for most of our friends (who like moist-cooked city hams you can cut with a fork).

Once in a great, great while if we're into a REALLY HUGE splurge for a MAJOR celebration I'll order some smoked rainbow trout and haddock from Ducktrap River Fish in Belfast, Maine. I adore their smoked tiny wild Maine shrimp and scallops but I won't buy them because we scarf 'em down like peanuts and at 24 bucks a pound... When I lived locally I'd go to the smokehouse and buy scraps for about two dollars a pound, and then they got wise and started making pates out of it. :-(

Fiddlers Green Farm in Maine started out just making hot cereals (and mighty fine hot cereals they were, too) but they have branched out into flours, baking and pancake mixes, Maine wild honeys, and all sorts of other goodies. All certified organic. Islander's Choice is my favorite hot cereal; Penobscot Porridge is delicious but can be a bit leaden in the tummy unless you're out doing something strenuous in the cold like shoveling snow or skiing all day!

I used to order from Fiddlers Green too.. my personal favorite were Izzy's Oats. They are a mix of steel cut oats, millet and almonds.

Maybe I'm in denial but it's never occurred to me that I need more choices than what I have at local stores! Granted, I don't live in a rural area and have plenty of choices (including Trader Joes) but obviously there are things some of you buy mail order that you deem worthy so maybe I should check it out.

Now... I have ordered lobsters online, and we frequently send our college son shipments from Omaha Steaks - not becaue their products are particularly good but because he goes to college in a REALLY backwater town with very limited choices! But that's not the same category of shopping.

natal can you give a quick olive oil lesson? I generally buy either the most expensive one that's on sale or something in the mid price range that's not on sale. Don't try and figure out my logic there...! Really, I wouldn't know one from another and have no idea if I've ever bought the same thing twice - what am I missing?

Dlm, the better extra virgin olive oils ... the ones you use in viniagrettes or as a dip with bread ... range from buttery & fruity to peppery & pungent. I've had hit or miss luck buying off the shelf. Shopping online I can usually find more information on a specific oil. It's all about your personal taste.

For cooking I stick with Bertolli extra virgin. It's about $7 or $8 for a 17 oz. bottle.

The current issue of Cook's Illustrated has an article on California olive oils. That's what prompted my recent order from California Olive Ranch.

Here is a link that might be useful: California extra virgin olive oils

Thanks for those tips - 90% of my use is cooking. I'll be sure to pick up a copy of Cooks.

"Maybe I'm in denial but it's never occurred to me that I need more choices than what I have at local stores!"

Part of it's plain old quality. The quality of the seasonings I can buy in local stores won't come within a million miles of what I get from Penzeys, and they make some amazing blends I can't get elsewhere (or fabricate myself).

Another part of it is supporting companies that are making good products and doing business in a sensible, ethical, service-oriented fashion, but if they had to rely only on those who live right in their immediate area they'd die out quickly. I mean, Belfast, Maine isn't exactly a metropolis... it's a pretty poor little town (especially now that the Bank of America call center is circling the drain) in the back of beyond, and if a company like Fiddlers Green had to rely only on the locals and the cute little touristy markets they'd be in serious trouble. (I was born nearby and almost all my family still lives there.)

Third, there are regional items that simply don't exist in some parts of the country. When I lived out West (Chicago and central Missouri, and yes, that's WAY west to a Mainer! LOL) I had to have my folks ship me things like Bakewell Cream leavening, Bell's poultry seasoning and stuffing, and Ployes French Canadian buckwheat crepe mix that I couldn't find for love nor money. Having those tastes from home really helped alleviate homesickness. It lets me be more adventurous, too, trying items that don't exist where I live - for instance, I'd love to try an Australian food/spice called "wattleseed" which is supposed to taste like a cross between coffee (without the bitterness), chocolate, and toasted hazelnuts. I've read it's just heavenly. Horridly expensive though to begin with, since like saffron it's picked and processed by hand, and then the shipping to the other side of the planet, which is why I haven't bought any yet. :-)

One of the foofy gourmet markets near me offers olive oil tastings. It's nice because I loathe olives so I don't want my olive oil to taste too olivey, but I want it to have a nice flavor like fruity-peppery. We usually go back and forth between Bertolli and Carapelli for everyday cooking, and we just finished up a nice Australian extra-virgin olive oil (Red Island) tonight. I'll have to go back to foofy market soon since DH wants to try another olive oil this time.

I also order from Penzey's. Their prices are very, very competitive when compared to those little jars in the grocery store and the quality is top notch. And thanks to Mari, I have a new spice to look up. There is also an Indian spice I want to try made from ground pomegranate seeds.

I also order my Agave nectar from wild organics. The price is not much different than my local health food store but the selection is broader and the shipping was very reasonable. Their honey is fabulous too. Our local honey is $20 for a mason jar and that is just too steep for me. They also have the best price that I can find on BioBags for my compost.

Boopadoo, Do a search for cuisine perel vinegars. I have gotten them more than half off of Dr. Fuhrman's prices which is a good thing because I order the spicy pecan and tequila lime vinegars. I don't remember where I ordered them right now but if I come across it, I will post.

Here is a link that might be useful: Agave Nectar