The Whole Foods (Internal) Debate

I should hate Whole Foods.

Their big, corporate, gobble up the small business competition attitude really bothers me. I know that although they sell almost all organic produce that they are buying from other big, corporate farms that pretty much go against what organic is supposed to be. Many of these farms are in Mexico, Argentina and Chili - not exactly local. In the last year Whole Foods purchased Wild Oats grocery store chain effectively getting rid of the only other health food grocery store that we have here in Clark County (the stores still exist, but they are changing over to Whole Foods so now there isn't any price or selection difference). Whole Foods is expensive and elitist. I don't get the feeling that that they offer their healthy and/or organic and/or local products because they feel it's the right thing to do to keep farming sustainable and slow the coming of global warming. No, when I wander around Whole Foods I feel like they exist because selling expensive "green" food is trendy.

But here's my problem, I still love Whole Foods.

Despite all of the things that really bother me about Whole Foods, they are my best option in town to find all of the things I am looking for in food and finding those things makes me happy.

1) Local, organic produce with minimal packaging. I count California as local (although I am seeing more and more items all over the store labeled local - from Nevada!) and I don't use produce bags anymore. If I buy something small like beans I re-use my own bag that I bring from home. Otherwise it goes straight into the cart sans bag.

2) Milk from cows that haven't been treated with artificial rBST and that has not been super pasteurized. Most organic milk is super pasteurized but Straus isn't and it comes in a glass bottle that you return to the store when you're done (added bonus, less packaging)

3) Meat that has not been treated with hormones or antibiotics for Hubby. I don't buy much meat, so I also like that I can buy a single chicken breast from the meat counter. This also avoids the Styrofoam and plastic wrap that most meat comes in.

4) Lots of bulk bin choices with lots of local (California) and organic choices. I bring my own re-used bags from home and get $.05 off of each item and reduce plastic bag waste at the same time. I think I'm the only person in the valley that does this by the amazement of the cashiers but they all seem to love it and don't make fun of me - to my face at least.

That's it. Whole Foods is the only place I've found in town that comes close to meeting all of these goals. And although it's trendy haven in there, I feel like I still need to vote with my dollars for what I want to see available in food choices. How will the dairy farmers ever know that we don't want them to use artificial rBST with their cows anymore if those of us who can afford to make a choice still choose milk treated with rBST? If enough people who can afford to choose a more expensive, specialty milk make the switch then demand will grow enough to convince dairy farmers to supply all mike from rBST free cows at a price that everyone can afford. And for now, Whole Foods is the only place I can do that in town.

I know many people complain about the price of groceries at Whole Foods, which I totally understand. I keep my groceries at a reasonable price by staying away from frozen and prepared foods, but that means I spend more time cooking than many people have.

What's important to you in the food you buy? Low price, easy to prepare, local, organic, healthy, yummy?