Ask Buzz: I am a florist and wedding planner in Louisiana. I have a bride requesting peonies and sweet peas for an October 3rd wedding. What varieties if any would be available for this date? Thanks so much! ~ Liz D.

Buzz, The Wholesale Expert: Hello Liz! Unfortunately fresh peonies are normally not available or the availability is limited during that time of the year. Fresh sweet peas should be no problem and are a great choice for wedding flowers!

Fortunately for your bride, the buying and selling of flowers is now a global market. Since many places around the world experience Spring at different times, many wholesale florists offer peonies and other flowers year round at a premium price. Because the cost to cultivate and ship is greater during the off season, your bride may face a much greater price for the same flowers.

If your bride has her heart set on peonies but doesn’t want to pay a premium price, consider wholesale dried flowers instead. Wholesale silk wedding flowers or dried wedding flowers afford the bride the same beautiful appearance but without the limitations of seasonal availability.

Snack foods are a delicious part of the American tradition. After school snacks, bedtime snacks, and snacks between meals are concepts every American grows up enjoying. Wholesale snacks bring this wholesome American snack fetish to your store and keep hungry tummies full and happy. Whether on the hunt for traditional snack foods, gourmet snack food, or low-carb snacks and healthy snack foods, consider these favorites.

Popcorn is as American as apple pie. Popcorn is an intricate part of the movie theatre experience. However, dieters and snackers alike tend to gravitate toward popcorn and popcorn mixes for their at-home and office snacks. Popping homemade popcorn right over the stove is a fun way to spend time with family.

Chips are a delicious part of lunchtime snacks everywhere. Plantain chips, banana chips, pork rinds, pita chips and potato chips are delicious with a sandwich or with other snack foods. Wholesale snack chips are easy to get which is great because they fly off of the shelves quickly!

Pretzels couldn’t be a more American snack food if they were red, white and blue. Snack pretzels, soft pretzels, pretzel sticks and bite-sized pretzel nuggets are huge hits with snack food eaters.

Nuts are thought to be among the healthy snack foods. Salted or unsalted, hickory nuts, pistachio nuts, brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, corn nuts, cashew nuts or a can of mixed nuts will all satisfy a hungry stomach.

Seeds are a delicious low-carb snack that can be enjoyed at home or during America’s pastime – a baseball game. Sports fans especially love snacking on sunflower seeds. For a real seed connoisseur try pumpkin seeds or flavored and barbecue sunflower seeds also!

Biscuits, not to be confused with another favorite snack food (cookies), are a delicious snack for after breakfast, before dinner or during a break at work. Biscuits, muffins and flatbread snacks are always popular additions to the snack aisle. These are filling snacks with the flavor of a less healthy treat but the guilt-free appeal of healthy snacks.

Need more ideas for delicious snack foods? Contact these wholesale snack food suppliers for the most popular and best tasting snack foods around!

Why Eat Sugar Free Foods?

Need to know why your customers are choosing sugar free foods over regular options? Sugar free is the way to go for many dieters and health-conscious eaters these days. Obesity and the threat of diseases it causes is one motivating factor for eating sugar free foods. Many also eat sugar free foods to slow or entirely prevent the onset of diabetes.

More than just the underlying health benefits of sugar free foods is the weight loss appeal that these foods bring. Sugar free foods are often made using sweeteners/sugar substitutes that break down quicker than natural sugar. Because of this, the sugars are not stored as starches and do not stay in the body as fat. Eating sugar free foods is a great way to enjoy the foods that you love without the guilt!

Are Sugar Free Foods Really Free of Sugar?

Oddly, not always. Usually sugar free foods contain a sugar substitute that has better effects than normal sugar (sucrose or saccharose) but still has the same sweet taste. Sugar substitutes used in wholesale sugar free foods can include any of the following sweeteners among others:

• Sucralose (Splenda or SucraPlus brand)
• Aspartame (Equal or Nutrasweet brand)
• Alitame (Aclame brand)
• Acesulfame potassium (Sunett brand)
• Saccharin (Sweet ‘n’ Low brand)
• Stevioside
• Agave syrup (a sugar alternative and natural sweetener)

Though these sweeteners may be in the food, they do not have the same effects of sugar (sucrose) and are therefore considered sugar free foods. Many natural and organic foods also claim to be sugar free or have no sugar added.

What Sugar Free Foods Are Popular With Customers?

Your customers will be amazed by the variety of sugar free foods available to them. When shopping for wholesale sugar free foods, consider some of these options:

• Sugar free chili peppers
• Sugar free desserts (cookies, puddings, etc)
• Sugar free jellies and jams
• Sugar free marmalades and preserves
• Sugar free teas
• Sugar free candy
• Sugar free gum (dentist recommended)

Each of these foods plus the assortment of other sugar-free options keeps your customers happy and their taste buds satisfied. Offering sugar-free gourmet foods is a win-win for you when you choose sugar-free foods from these wholesale gourmet foods suppliers!

People with celiac disease (an autoimmune disease that rejects gluten) or dermatitis herpetiformis (a skin disorder linked to gluten) are often ordered to follow a strict gluten-free diet.

What Are Some Acceptable Gluten-Free Foods?

It’s very important that gluten-free foods contain less than 5 parts per million of gluten (the smallest detectable amount). It is also important that your customers like as well as trust the gluten free gourmet foods that they find in your store. To keep your reputation high, here are some gluten free gourmet foods that you can trust:

Gluten free cookies are available from many different vendors. These, like gluten free mixes, are made with gluten free flour.

Gluten free flour is derived from several plants, wheat almost never being a source. Gram flour and buckwheat flour are examples of gluten-free flours.

Though gluten is often used as a thickening agent, you will not find gluten in gluten-free jams, jellies, preserves or marmalades. Other thickening agents such as gelatin are used instead.

Gluten free bread mixes, gluten free pancake mixes, and gluten free muffin mixes keep the table happy in a gluten-free household. Your customers do not want to sacrifice flavor for their gluten-free diet so satisfy their taste buds with gluten free mixes in these flavors: Apple, Blueberry, Cinnamon, Corn, Cranberry, Raisin, Sweet Potato, Zucchini, Raspberry, Cherry, Banana, Flax.

How Can I Get Truly Gluten-Free Foods for My Customers?

Gluten and products containing gluten are numerous, therefore finding gluten-free products can be difficult unless these people know where to go for gluten-free products from a vendor that they trust. Certainly not wishing to harm this relationship between you and your customers, these gluten-free gourmet foods vendors will guide you through finding the gluten free foods that are right for you.

What Is A Carbohydrate?

Carbohydrates are a major source of energy for humans. Although proteins and fats also provide energy, carbohydrates are the most popular source. Just like cholesterol, there are good carbs and bad carbs. Most simple carbohydrates come in the form of sugar and are generally assumed (with the exception of nutrient-rich fruits) to be the bad carbs. Complex carbohydrates are found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These are the good carbs.

Why Do My Customers Want Low Carb Foods?

The low carb diet is one of the most popular diet regimens today. It is based on the premise that cutting out the bad carbs and utilizing proteins as energy sources will reduce weight and weight gain. In a world that constantly monitors the appearance of people, low carb foods are gaining popularity because of their effects on weight loss.

What Wholesale Low Carb Foods Are Available And Popular?

You can find a wide range of low carb foods that you can buy wholesale to provide to your customers. Your customers may even be surprised by some of the options that are available. There is no need for your customers to sacrifice flavor when choosing gourmet foods that are low in carbohydrates. If you want to encourage your customers toward a low-carb lifestyle or support their choice for a low carb diet, consider offering wholesale low carbohydrate foods like these:

• Low Carbohydrate cheese straws are delicious!
• Low Carb cookies are a healthier alternative to traditional sugars!
• Satisfy the sweet tooth with low carb jellies and jams, marmalades and preserves!
• Meats and seafoods are great low carb foods because they are high in energy-providing proteins!
• Low carb sauces and marinades take the guilt out when enjoying a whole-grain pasta meal or low carb meaty dinner.

There are many other options available for your customers interested in low-carb foods. For more information and other tasty options, visit these wholesale low carb food suppliers!

What are essential oils?

“Essential oils” are the oils naturally formed in plants which contain the plant’s distinctive fragrance or essence -hence “essential” oil.

Where do essential oils come from?

Essential oils are usually formed through a process called distillation. Here the plant is placed on a screen and steam is forced through the plant. Then the mixture is cooled until it condenses. Essential oils are hydrophobic liquids (resist water) so they are easily separated at this point, bottled and sold.

How do people use wholesale essential oils? What are wholesale essential oils for?

Essential oils are used for many reasons. Many essential oils are used to add a distinct flavor to food. Almond oil, coconut oil, olive oil, sunflower seed oil, grapefruit oil, oil of thyme, peppermint oil and others are used for this purpose. Each of these oils maintains the unique, distinctive flavor and/or smell of the plant and brings this quality to the food or beverages in which they are ingredients.

Wholesale essential oils are also used to add a distinctive smell to personal care products such as bath soaps, shower gels and other bath products as well as many perfumes/colognes and cosmetics. Examples of wholesale essential oils used for this purpose are camphor oil (for a mentholated smell), tea tree oil, myrrh oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, rose oil, frankincense and others.

Essential oils have also been linked to therapeutic/aromatherapy healing. Chiropractors, doctors, aromatherapists and other medical attention providers often use products containing essential oils for therapeutic purposes. Essential oils seen in products often used by these specialists are flaxseed oil, palm oil, borage oil and linseed oil (also used in oil paint production).

At least that’s what seed wholesalers would have everyone thinking. When it gets right down to it, they’re right! Full manicured lawns, lavish flower gardens, and acres of delicious vegetables aren’t possible every year without wholesale grass seeds, herb seeds, floral seeds and vegetable seeds!

Picture it:  Rows of beautiful flowers ready to be enjoyed inside a flower arrangement. Beautiful gardens lining homes with natural extravagance. What makes it possible to enjoy such brilliant displays of flowers? Wholesale flower seeds.

When was the last time you crunched on a fresh carrot, sliced open a juicy tomato, or fried some squash? The taste of fresh vegetables dances across countless homes every day. To what do these satisfied mouths owe their gratitude? Wholesale vegetable seeds, of course! But, remember man can not live by vegetables alone. So, add a little spice to those vegetables with wholesale herb seeds.

Manicured lawns don’t appear overnight. They are cared for, prepped and landscaped to keep them looking beautiful. But what happens when the grass is patchy? New grass is needed! Instead of opting for turf (which can be more difficult to mow), grow fresh grass instead with the help of wholesale grass seeds!

Whether a landscaper, gardener, nursery owner, flower shop owner looking for unique gifts or someone else, get the fresh vegetables, grass and flowers that you want with wholesale seeds!