Ready Set Go … Pesach is coming

Pesach is fast approaching and for celiacs and their families that can only mean one thing, take out the credit cards because bulk purchasing season is about to begin.

For those of us who need to have GF food that is kosher, Pesach is not only a great time to celebrate yetzias mitzrayim but it is usually the only time of year when kosher GF products are plentiful.

Many kosher vendors do not produce kosher l’Pesach products all year round but start their production far in advance of Pesach and may stop around Purim time since product needs to be in the stores.

So since there may be some of you who are not yet “Pro’s” at this bulk madness, let me offer a few tips. We will start a discussion group on the topic as well so others can share their tips and tricks. These are in no specific order and we will be using the acronym GFKP for GF Kosher l’Pesach.

1.      If you intend to stock up, buy a separate freezer. This will allow you to store all the food you will be buying during this period.

2.      Just because something is Kosher l’Pesach does not mean it is GF, since many items contain matzah meal. Look for those products which are non-gebrochts.

3.      As soon as you see a new GFKP product have those who will be eating it throughout the year try it for taste. If they like it, you can buy a case or two and store it in your freezer.

4.      Keep in mind that celiacs especially kids may get tired of a product, so make sure you don’t overstock.

5.      If there are products that you like and don’t see many more in the stores freezer, ask the manager to order you a case or two. Many stores will NOT restock unless they have a specific request. Be prepared for the manager to tell you that they can’t get anymore of a certain product due to no product being available at the vendor.

6.      If you are buying oat shmurah matzah, carefully shake the box to see if it became matzah meal on its’ trip from Eretz Yisroel. Rabbi Kestenbaum is constantly working on the shipping issue and it has improved over the last few years.

7.      If you had bought bulk last year, take an inventory of which products are gone, what remains (and why) and approximately how much space you have this year.

8.      This time would also be a good time to defrost your freezer since it should be empty or low.

9.      While many people use this time of year to “eat down” their chametz stock, remember that many items you have are just kitniyos. A Rav should be consulted to see if they should be depleted before Pesach.

10. Talk to your friends who also stock up on GFKP food. There may be an opportunity to trade your current stock and discuss which products you like.

11. After Pesach go to your local kosher store and try to buy things at a discount price. While this used to work a few years ago, the amount of celiacs has increased greatly and managers know that we will pay full price for their Pesach stock even after Yom Tov. However, stores such as Shoprite, Acme and Pathmark will usually discount Pesach products sometimes as early as Chol Hamoed.

Good Luck and happy shopping