Girl Scout cookies

[pne]

Further on the theme of we_swap_snacks: can someone tell me about the availability of Girl Scout cookies?

They're an icon of American culture, and I'd be interested to try some, but am wondering whether they'd be available to my swap partner, since as I understand it, they're typically sold as part of fund-raisers, so might not be available year-round but only at selected dates.

Is that about right? Or are there places where you can get them at any time? (Or even order them off the web? Presumably not since that would not benefit a specific local unit.)

If they're only sold occasionally, about how often is this? Every couple of months, perhaps, so if the swap partner knew sufficiently far in advance that I'd like some, they could wait until the next sale? Or only once or twice a year? Or does this depend so much on the local unit that it's impossible to say in general?

Relatedly, what are your favourite Girl Scout cookies? Why those in particular?

Which ones would you recommend?

Oh, and in what kind of quantities do they get sold? I wouldn't want to buy entire boxes of cookies—something on the order of 200 g (7 oz) per type, perhaps. Is that possible?

Comments

[quinctia]

If I remember correctly, distribution is different depending on the region. I think they probably stagger it so the manufacturers can produce a steady amount throughout the year, instead of being bombarded all at once. There are also two manufacturers, so cookies have different names. For instance, jpallan mentions Samoas and Tagalongs, which have never been sold in my area...though there are similar or identical cookies with different names. So I also recommend the coconut and caramel ones, but they have some boring name instead of Samoas. The shortbread ones are also kind of cute because they are in the shape of the logo. Also, Girl Scout cookies are generally sold around September in my area, which means producing them in October is...normal.

[psitticism.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's good to know. They're sold around this time of year in NJ/NY and MA, and I remembered a friend in CA mentioning they were selling them there now as well, so I thought it was pretty universal to sell them this time of year. I'm glad they're available at other times elsewhere. They should be fairly easy to locate, then.

[sparkofcreation.livejournal.com]

They are on sale now in New Mexico, and when I went to college in Virginia, they were on sale in March then too, because it was always around midterms that tables were set up outside the dining halls.

[nyssa.livejournal.com]

In the Southeast (Georgia and Florida for sure), they're being sold right now as well.

[pne.livejournal.com]

They should be fairly easy to locate, then.

If I can ask anyone at all, then yes. For any given person, though, I'd probably only be in luck during the local "cookie season" - some people might have March, others September, others in between.

[dampscribbler.livejournal.com]

It seems they're being sold on both coasts and in between right now, what area are you in that you don't have Girl Scout cookies right now? We're in Oregon and have already finished our three boxes.

[quinctia]

I live near Chicago.

I didn't buy any last year, but the year before, I think I got some in August/September. A friend of mine's aunt dropped him off some in September this past fall.

And I saw some scouts with a table set up in the local grocery store in about October/November, though I'm not sure where they procured theirs...whether it was overstock from the local council or they'd purposefully bought a lot of boxes to sell later, I have no idea.