Say the words ‘Cookie Time’ to anyone and the vision that fills their head isn’t the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street. Instead, they get visions of a different cookie experience--not cookie monsters, but Cookie Masters, the Girl Scouts.

“Most of the pre-orders for cookie have already been done, says Cherie Ellis, community development manager for the Mountains to Midlands Council, “but people will still encounter some girls taking orders around at their businesses and churches.

“We have a lot of troops that are sponsored by the schools here in the county. Fairfield Primary’s troop is selling cookies, I know,” she said.

The troops will have booth sales at Bi-Lo and Wal Mart, and those sales are planned for this weekend, said Janet Lawrence, an executive with the Mountains to Midlands Council.

Some of the cookies that will eventually end up in Fairfield County homes and businesses will be delivered on Friday at White Hall A.M.E.Z. Church in Jenkinsville.

About 13,000 boxes are expected to be sold in Fairfield County.

Girl Scout troops at Richard Winn are also going around and selling cookies to businesses. Because of safety concerns, Girl Scouts no longer sell cookies door-to-door, unless they are accompanied by an adult.

“Most girls take orders at businesses, or from their neighbors or people they know,” said Ellis.

There are a lot of cookie choices this year, said Janet Lawrence. The Girl

Scouts will be selling no less than eight varieties of cookies this year, including the ever-popular Thin Mints (the top selling Girl Scout cookie in America,) Carmel DeLites and the peanut butter sandwich cookies, just to name a few.

New this year are Cinna-Spins, cinnamon cookies in 100-calorie packs, perfect for lunchboxes or desk drawers.

Learn more about the cookies at www.ABCsmartcookies.com.

Selling cookies isn’t just a fundraiser for the Girl Scouts, points out Janet Lawrence, it’s a way for the girls to learn to leadership and business skills. Each troop sets their own goals as to what they want to earn the money for and tracks their success.

If you’re not in the mood to buy a box of cookies for yourself when you visit the Girl Scout cookie booth, you can buy a box and donate it to a soldier serving in Iraq or Afghanistan through the Cookies for Soldiers, said Lawrence.

“Girl Scout cookies are the Number One requested item from home by soldiers serving overseas,” said Ellis and Lawrence.