Where is the best source for food grade containers and bags? Several years ago a friend of mine was working in the industrial camp business in Alberta and gave me a good supply of food grade bags and containers. I've used up most of them and need a new supply.
You can get all the 5 gallon food grade buckets with lids you would ever need by asking around at restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, superstores and even fast food places. They are usually happy to part with them or in some cases some places might charge a buck or so.
Worst case scenario is you can order them online but why would you when you can get them for free pretty easily.
I don't just use mine for food stuff I also use them to store clothing, bedding, winter hats/gloves, light-bulbs, tools, candles, hardware etc. Pretty much anything small that you can store in a rubber maid bin.
For Mylar bags ($2-$3 a pop) and 300cc oxygen absorbers (about $12 for 100) I have bought online but if anyone knows a place for cheap bulk Mylar bags and absorbers in the GTA I would be grateful.
There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life - Frank Zappa
Home Depot sells Food Grade Pails and lids ... Oxygen Obsorbers can be Hand Warmers sold at any of many camping and sports stores (Canadian Tire - Home Depot) ... Berry Hill Farms in Barrie Ontario sells Mylar bags at a reasonable price or you could invest in a "Food Saver" and use their bags. I use a food saver because I vacuum seal most of my individual meals at home, becuse I buy in bulk, I save $$.
Crawford Provincial sells desi-packs in bulk ... Mississauga Tel: 905 670-7904 ... Hope this helps
Found this just now, and had read this topic 1min before.. good timing
Really? Home Depot sells food grade pails and lids? DO they mark on them it is food grade? I have a bunch of Home Depot pails, but use them for other sorts of non-food items.
I have a Food Saver vacuum seal, but use it very little. My Father had picked it up because he thought it would be handy to have when butchering meat, but really cost 4 times more than the brown butchers wrapping paper.
5 gallon food grade pails, can be found at the Bulk Barn for $1 when they have them. Call ahead first and they will set them aside for you.
"We 'Prep.' to live after a downfall, Not just to survive."
Didn't even know Alberta had bulk barns until I looked it up. We have one in Edmonton. Guess I'll be taking a look some times next week.
Any Bulk food distributor, will have these 5 gal pails. Bulk Barns is only one example. Try the larger restaurants also. 
"We 'Prep.' to live after a downfall, Not just to survive."
Didn't even know Alberta had bulk barns until I looked it up. We have one in Edmonton. Guess I'll be taking a look some times next week.
Also try sandwich shops, pizza places, Dairy Queen (my daughter used to get me pails and lids from work and they were easy to clean up), sub shops, donut shops. Any grocery store that has a bakery/deli counter might give you some too.
I'm the lady you're stuck behind in the grocery store with the over loaded cart filled with cases of tuna, peanut butter, huge bags of rice and the weary looking husband
Re: vacuum sealing
I've been vacuuming sealing things like rice and oats in amounts that will fill a large mason jar - which is what I put it in when I am using it. I fill a mason jar, then pour it in a bag the right size and seal. Then I put them in a food grade container.
That way I am only going to open the correct amount for my container and the rest of the bags are still vacuumed sealed.
I haven't started on beans or lentils yet, but I'll be using the same system. 😀
ETA:
I get my buckets from a local bakery for a twoonie each.
Food will get you through times with no money, but money will not get you through times with no food.