A lot of people love to make Trader Joe’s their main shopping store. We don’t disagree with them. Trader Joe’s is a great grocery store, but they don’t stock a ton of products. So, does Trader Joe’s stock firewood?
Trader Joe’s does not stock firewood. It has never been part of their product range and we doubt that firewood is ever going to be available through Trader Joe’s.
Let’s discuss this in a bit more depth. Hopefully this will let you know why firewood is not on the agenda at Trader Joe’s.
What Does Trader Joe’s Sell?
Trader Joe’s is a grocery store that stocks mostly food and drink products. There may be a small number of health products in the mix, but Trader Joe’s tries to keep those products to a minimum. Their business model is to pile quality foods and drinks high and sell them at an affordable price.
This means that there are some products that you would normally find at a large grocery store that you would never be able to find at a Trader Joe’s. Firewood is one of these products.
Availability of Firewood at Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s does not sell firewood, and there are a few reasons for this.
Firstly, their main aim is to sell food and drink products. This is why people head to Trader Joe’s. People aren’t really heading to Trader Joe’s for their firewood.
Trader Joe’s would probably prefer if they didn’t anyway. The stores are small, and they can’t fit that many people inside. Trader Joe’s thrives on quick customer and product turnover. Selling firewood will deliver neither.
It is also likely that the Trader Joe’s buying team wouldn’t really know where to source firewood at an affordable price anyway.
At least at a price where they can rebrand the product. Remember, nearly every single product that you find in Trader Joe’s will be a branded product. If Trader Joe’s cannot brand it themselves, then it probably isn’t going to go into stock.
While we cannot say for 100% certain that Trader Joe’s is never going to stock firewood, we are reasonably confident that you will never find it in their stores. Not that it matters too much. There will be plenty of stores in your local area that do sell it. This leads us neatly onto the next section.
Alternatives for Purchasing Firewood at Trader Joe’s
If you are looking for affordable firewood, then we suggest that you head to Walmart. During the colder months of the year, you will often find that there are great deals on bundles of firewood.
It isn’t going to be the best firewood in the world but it is probably going to be worth the money that you pay for it.
If you are looking for quality firewood (i.e. something that will burn incredibly clean), then we suggest that you divert your attention to local sellers of firewood.
You can probably find websites that list these people and, in rare cases, you may be able to find them on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
The price is going to be a lot higher than the likes of Walmart but if you want the perfect piece of wood to burn then you probably won’t be getting much better than this.
It is important that you do not go out and collect firewood yourself. For starters, it is probably going to be illegal to take fallen wood anyway.
Secondly, firewood takes a long time to prepare. It needs to dry out or you are pretty much throwing a ticking timebomb on top of the fireplace.
Considerations When Purchasing Firewood
We have already talked about where you should be buying your firewood, but what should you be thinking about when you are on the hunt for quality wood? Well, a few things.
Type of Wood
Most wood can work as firewood. If you want something that will burn hot and for longer then you can get dense wood. This includes:
- Walnut
- Oak
- Maple
- Cherry
The price is much higher but, in our opinion, worth it. If you want something cheaper then go for spruce, pine, or fir. The only downside is that you will probably need much more of it during the winter months. This means that you will need more storage.
Moisture Content
You want there to be as little moisture content in the wood as possible. Air-dried firewood is fine, but if you can buy kiln-dried wood then it is going to be even better.
Low-moisture woods will burn much cleaner.
Seasoned Wood
If you need the wood right away then you should ensure that you buy seasoned wood. This will have low moisture content and can be thrown straight onto the fire (assuming it has been stored correctly). It is more expensive but it is ready-to-use.
If you are buying wood for the following year then you can season it yourself. However, do bear in mind that the process is lengthy.
It can take anywhere from 6 months to a year, depending on the hardness of the wood. There are plenty of guides online about how to season your wood.
Remember, once you have your wood, you need to store it properly. Do not store it on the ground. Store it in a cool, dry location.
You want to ensure that as little moisture gets into that wood as possible. This means no storing it outside where it can get damp in the wind, rain, and snow.
Final Thoughts
Trader Joe’s does not stock firewood and it is unlikely that they will ever stock firewood. It is not really something that fits in with their business model.
Stores such as Walmart and local retailers should have firewood for sale. Make sure the wood is dried and seasoned if you want to use it right away.
Remember, while most wood can be placed on the fire, not all of it should be. If you want quality firewood then aim for heavier and denser woods. We love oak, but you may like something like maple.
