I just found out today that a Whole Foods is going to be built close to my neighborhood. Too bad it’s not an Earth Fare.
While many crunchy, green mamas might rejoice at Whole Foods coming to town, I am in mourning because Whole Foods is basically on par with your “neighborhood”  Walmart.
There is nothing “neighborly” about Walmart or Whole Foods.
What a joke.
Whole Foods is just another cutthroat Corporate Bully dressed in organic, “let’s save the world”, “buy local” disguise with the shareholders in full throttle, profit taking control.
While Whole Foods is undoubtedly counting on health conscious Moms like me in the neighborhood cha-chinging away at the brand spanking new registers, let me just share with you that you won’t see The Healthy Home Economist browsing the aisles there.
I’ll be shopping at the 2 small, local healthfood stores less than a mile away where I’ve shopped for the past 15 years. Â That’s where my business loyalty lies.
I spend almost all my food money with local businesses and local farms. Â Not Whole Foods.
How could I possibly rationalize shopping at Whole Foods which has recently rolled over on the GMO issue in the United States by suggesting that we all need to “learn to live with GMO’s” by accepting the USDAs proposal for “peaceful” coexistence between organics and genetically modified foods?
Here is Whole Foods’ official statement on the matter:
The reality is that no grocery store in the United States, no matter what size or type of business, can claim they are GMO-free. While we have been and will continue to be staunch supporters of non-GMO foods, we are not going to mislead our customers with an inaccurate claim (and you should question anyone who does). Here’s why: the pervasive planting of GMO crops in the U.S. and their subsequent use in our national food supply. 93% of soy, 86% of corn, 93% of cotton, and 93% of canola seed planted in the U.S. in 2010 were genetically engineered. Since these crops are commonly present in a wide variety of foods, a GMO-free store is currently not possible in the U.S. (Unless the store sells only organic foods.)
Since the U. S. national organic standards do not allow the use of GMO ingredients and practices in the growing or production of organic foods, choosing organic is one way consumers can avoid GMO foods. The other is through labeling, of which we are strong supporters.Â
Hey Whole Foods, here’s a novel idea:  How about selling only organic and local foods then? That would solve the problem nicely wouldn’t it?
I don’t know about you, but that statement screams “sell-out” to me. Even more damaging, Whole Foods recently endorsed the peaceful coexistence option with regard to GE alfalfa rather than an outright ban. The unrestricted planting of GE alfalfa that starts as early as this spring threatens the entire grassfeeding dairy industry over the long term as alfalfa hay is an integral part of winter feeding.
Whole Foods is all about corporate profits and management can shade it and couch it any way they like, but the message is loud and clear: Â corporate profit and shareholder gains are more important than sticking to the basic sustainability ideals Whole Foods was founded upon.
Do you want your neighborhood healthfood stores and farmer’s markets to suffer revenue losses from business ruthlessly stripped away by a Whole Foods coming to town?
If not, you can choose to stay away like me and treat Whole Foods like just another supermarket or Walmart: Â a place of last resort where budget dollars are rarely if ever spent.
Note: as of July 2012, it appears that Whole Foods is still sourcing much of its “organic” produce from China which provides further verification of the video below.
In addition, as of June 2015, Whole Foods’ new veggie rating system can rank conventional produce grown in another country ahead of organic, local produce!
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
I find it interesting to see so many comments about getting fresh organic produce from WF. I live in Houston, the 4th largest city in America, and on any given day you can go in to the WF I USED to shop at and find one or two, MAYBE three organic options at best and the rest is conventional. I asked an associate one time, “Do you still sell organic produce here?” He just said, “We must be all out.” Nice. THANKFULLY we found a local organic coop that we just started using and it is FABULOUS. Everything is so fresh and flavorful. My two year old ate a plate of tomatoes, avocado, broccoli, carrots, and zucchini tonight. Fresh, organic, and WAY cheaper than WHOLE PAYCHECK, as we call it around here.
Haha! I couldn’t agree more. The two are more similar than many think.
There is quite a bit of irony currently taking place in my neighborhood. I live in a rather quiet part of East Dallas where one of the original Whole Foods was located (and is no longer). This particular WF is actually being refurbished as a Walmart!!!
Enjoy the site.
Funny Brian! Thanks for sharing.
Indeed, Whole Foods is clearly following the same business model as Walmart. They have many people fooled. Not me.
I sat on this one for a few days and came back and wow, Sarah, I think you opened Pandora’s box! My feelings on Whole Foods is mixed. They are a large corporation and they do have issues but they also have some redeeming points. For instance, the company gives significant support to local start-up businesses which in turn helps the local economy. I have seen several local businesses start and flourish within the past few years and a lot of this has to do with the support of Whole Foods. They are able to get their products in several regional stores with the potential to get into statewide stores. Being in California, this is pretty massive.
Though I see some of the good of Whole Foods, I know that they are not perfect and also respect the need to support smaller local stores, businesses, and farms directly. I do most of my shopping at a co-op which is 30 miles away from my home. I also do some shopping at a local health food store but they are actually more expensive than Whole Foods and do not carry some products. Most if not all of my vegetables come from local farmers markets and I also participate in community supported agriculture.
Being an informed shopper is most important when shopping at any store. Most of the packaged stuff is just what I called it, stuff, and not food. If a person adopts a whole foods diet then they will do most if not all of there shopping on the perimeter of the store, mainly in the produce and meat sections. GMO’s is one of several issues out there. Most packaged foods have some form of processed soy, corn, and MSG. These things are in “healthy foods” and I find them in all of my local health food stores. Not sure why these things are passing off as healthy but they are and people need to get informed about what they are eating.
On the issue of GMOs, recently when at a local Whole Foods store there was campaigning being done by The Committee for the Right to Know regarding their ballot initiative for mandatory labeling of GMO products in CA. Also, yesterday when in Whole Foods, I noticed that an item was labeled “Non-GMO Project Verified” which was a little refreshing.
I totally understand staying true to self when speaking out but understand that with power comes responsibility. Of course there will be people out there who are offended by the things that we say but there are so many people out there struggling to get things right with there diet and need a supportive, nurturing environment to help them along. This is where our leadership abilities step in and we know how to respond to the ones who are just offended because that’s just what some people do vs. the people who need nurturing direction.
I am sure that your post has opened many people’s eyes to the issue of GMOs. If the California ballot passes then there is no stopping the possibility of mandatory labeling being required across the nation. Hopefully, this is something that we all are taking a strong stance on and supporting the movement somehow.
That was the whole (pun intended) point of this post! Not to insult people but to make them THINK about where they are spending their money and not just do it blindly out of the convenience and glitz of Whole Foods. I have NEVER shopped at Whole Foods as I ALWAYS knew they were a problem. I have occasionally met someone there for lunch or picked up a kombucha there when traveling, but I have never ever ever felt spending a significant amount of money there was the right way to go. Thank you for this thoughtful response, Janis. I very much appreciate it.
By the way, I have NO PROBLEM opening Pandora’s Box and will do so again and again despite getting slammed whereever it may come from. This is the ONLY way any of us are going to move forward is to question the status quo and get uncomfortable sometimes. If we continue on the way we are, we are doomed. We all must change much more and that includes me (although toning down my message is not one of them).
Nicole – depending on who you ask, you will certainly get different answers. I don’t think some grain at the end is bad, and I’m not a farmer, I just wouldn’t eat any beef that had been on a feedlot eating grain alone the last 90-120 days of its life. I think that’s vastly different than being fed *some* grain the last few weeks, and also grass, which is what I’ve always understood that to mean. When cattle were on fields in the historical past, they would naturally eat some grains and other feed where they grazed, so this is not too much different than this situation.
Honestly, I have eaten 100% grassfed meat and also some that had a bit of grain at the end, and I have liked both. The main objection I have, and I’m sure Sarah agrees, is for the cattle to be on a feedlot the last 90-120 days of their lives where they have absolutely no access to pasture at all. I hope that is helpful, and in keeping with what Sarah has said as well.
Thanks for your reply! I definitely agree – feedlot is a terrible idea. Like I said, my farmer finishes totally on grass and our meat is very tender, but when I give friends advice on what to ask their farmers this threw me for a loop. Now I know there is some variability in opinions on if grain-finishing is acceptable. Thanks again!
I really wish that those who are not happy with this blog post and some of the other material that Sarah has written would realize that this is Sarah’s blog. She is free to say whatever she wants. I have a blog too, and I’m not one to not say what I think for fear of somebody unsubscribing from my list. I’ve never done that, I tell it like it is. If we lived life that way, nothing would ever get accomplished. If you don’t like what’s being said, don’t read the blog.
I believe with all my heart that to combat the corporate bio-terrorists like Monsanto we cannot back down for any reason, and that means not supporting corporations who are supporting them such as WFs. If you have a WFs near you and it’s all you have, so be it. You don’t have to post that you disagree with me or Sarah, or anyone else. And I don’t recall Sarah ever saying that if you shop there, you are a bad person. She’s just trying to do what she feels is consistent and supportive of a sustainable future for our food and farms, the same as I am doing. Does that make either of us condescending or rude? I don’t think it does. I think those are two entirely separate things.
I also wrote a post about this subject last month, and I have had some critical commentary on my blog and on Facebook. I’m sure many of the people here would have scathing things to say about what I wrote. But the fact remains that WFs has committed some unforgivable transgressions – which I outlined and referenced. They’ve done this for years and continue to do it. I used to submit comments via their web site, but I stopped doing it because I observed that it did not good. What has had the largest impact by my witness is supporting local farmers. In my area, our sustainable community has grown by leaps and bounds, and like some people in my city have suggested, I would be an absolute fool to just start shopping at WFs when they open later this year, and abandon all my wonderful, caring local farmers (not to mention the great prices we get) and instead go to WFs. We also have a wonderful local, health food store which supports these food growers and farmers. I realize not everyone has these choices, but everyone has to do what they will or can, and not bash someone else if they decide they don’t want to shop at WFs and write a blog about it, and include what are logical reasons behind not doing it.
Hi Raine – Sorry I just don’t have it in me to respond to your specific points. I’m ready for this debate to die down. But, I read your blog post re: Whole Foods, and am interested in your opinion on Sarah’s recommendation for grass fed meat. I saw you posted your concerns about grain finishing cattle, and you said in bold: “The last 30 days of an animal’s life is the most critical for assessing nutrient quality of the meat.” Someone mentioned earlier that Sarah recommends finishing cattle on grain, but for less time than conventional meat, and I just found the following on her facebook page from a read: “On a fully grass fed cow…. grass finished vs. grain finished?? What is your recommendation?” Her response was: “I do not like completely grassfinished beef as it is like leather. I like nonGMO grain finished for about 3 weeks. No longer than that else the nutrition starts to disappear rapidly.”
I have always heard what you said on your post, that the last 30 days on pasture are critical, so I was shocked by this response. Our farmer finishes without grain, and we don’t have the leathery meat problem, but I’m wondering what you think the implications are of this 3 weeks of grain feeding? I have friends asking me these questions, and Sarah’s recommendation has thrown me for a loop. I’m not ready to change my stance from 100% grass fed unless I learn more, you know?
thehealthyhomeeconomist: You are lucky to have that type of healthfood store in your area. I’ve lived in many places over the years and have never found one that does what yours does.
Sarah, It still seems like you absolutely refuse to acknowledge the differing opinions that have been posted above. Many people have said that they simply don’t have access to local farms year round, or that their local farms are actually benefiting from Whole Foods, or that their local health food stores sell nothing but vitamins and supplements. Someone mentioned that not everything is always black and white, but it appears that nothing is going to change your mind on this issue.
No, nothing will change based on people bashing me personally here and on other blogs. I have ideals to which I strive which doesn’t suggest that I am perfect neither are the local businesses I support, but I choose to spend my money where it will make the most difference in the world and no amount of Sarah bashing will change that.
Why is everyone so down on me for buying local is what I’m wondering? Very strange and unexpected. Hopefully, my position has at least made you consider spending your money elsewhere.
Monsanto 2010 Revenue $10.5 BILLION
Whole Foods 2010 Revenue $9 BILLION
These two companies are buddies. I would bet money their executives have been skiing together in Vail or Aspen this winter. Whole Foods would not exist in its current form without Monsanto. Monsanto would be making a whole lot less money without Whole Foods. One is the enabler of the other. You support one, you support the other.
By the way, I clearly said in the post that if Whole Foods should be treated like any other supermarket or WalMart. If that’s all you have, then shop there. If you have options, then exercise them. It is some readers who have made my position black and white, not me. In other posts I say all the time that if the best you can buy is SPAM, then buy SPAM. I am far from dogmatic, but I do strive for the ideal wherever and whenever possible.
I very much appreciate your reply. I don’t think the “if you can only buy SPAM, buy SPAM” mentality/frame of mind came across in your original post. Of course we all want to strive for ideal, and I completely understand your position on that. But my original frustration stemmed from feeling a bit “looked down upon” for not always being able to purchase the ideal, especially when the ideal seems like a secret to outsiders who don’t know about the same sources as you do (i.e. farmers who don’t wish to advertise publicly). I don’t think people are down on you for buying local at all–I just think people feel the need to defend themselves for shopping at Whole Foods if that is their only option for certain products. Also, I don’t think people’s intentions are to bash you as a person. Many people, including myself, have said how much we learn from you–but you even said in your other post about WholeFoods that sometimes your claws come out, and the “my way or the highway” type of tone is off putting at times. I understand your position on the company and Monsanto and hopefully things will change for the better.
Just so you know, I tried going to my local health food store instead of WF today, and it is a terribly run store with stale food and very rude employees. But–I tried!
Thanks again for your reply.
Hi Michele, please contact your local WAPF Chapter Leader and try to find some local buying clubs if your healthfood store is less than accommodating.
Wow I’ve been reading both blogs for a while and this is a heated topic. Sarah I can tell you I would never intend to bash you, and I have been the beneficiary of knowledge gained because of you and for that I’m grateful. I do think, though, that you are having a really hard time seeing what many of my fellow readers are trying to express to you. I read on the “other” blog that someone said it seems like you feel you are being persecuted for your view and you might think that somehow validates your position. I can see that in your words.
It feels a little like you are playing the victim when you say things like “Why is everyone so down on me for buying local is what I’m wondering? Very strange and unexpected”. I’ve read the threads fully, and I haven’t seen anywhere where you’ve been put down for buying local. Unless I missed a whole section of posts or something? I think everyone on both blogs have expressed they desire and commitment to buying local, and even the people who’ve said they shop Whole Foods have mostly limited their purchases to local items sold at Whole Foods. I’m kind of thick skinned, so while I often think the way you say things are kind of rude, I don’t really care – but most people I know are not as “thick-skinned” as I am and I can see how it’s gets people fired up. What I’ve noticed is it’s not usually WHAT you say but HOW you say it. I think you have a good thing going here, and I’m sure your motivation is good but your method needs a little tweaking if you want to reach as many people as possible with your message. I mean this sincerely and constructively, and I hope someone would share the same with me if I were veering off course. Your previous responses make me fear you take to heart the criticisms you’ve received. I sincerely hope you prove me wrong. You are in a position to do so much good!
Correction: “Your previous responses make me fear you WON’T take to heart the criticisms you’ve received.”
First and foremost, I have to be true to myself when I blog. If others don’t get me, then let the chips fall where they may. I won’t blog if I have to pretend to be or write in a style that is not me.
I’ve gotten plenty of “atta girl” emails too about this post so the criticism is a vocal minority and not the majority opinion. Plenty of folks enjoy the hard hitting way I write about what I am passionate about. It would be silly for me to expect everyone to agree with what I write or for everyone to enjoy my writing style. There is no possible way for me to please everyone and it would be unrealistic for me to expect to.
Some criticism is a good thing as it shows that I have brought up a good topic for discussion. Preaching to the choir all the time would be quite boring.
Of course you got “atta girl” messages! You know why? Because there are people on both sides of every debate. You’ll never have everyone agreeing or disagreeing with you. It’s just disappointing that you are only interested in preaching to your choir, though – especially now that you’re on the WAPF board. You indeed will never please everyone, but I don’t think that’s where this debate truly lies. I’m afraid your unapologetically “hard-hitting” approach might knock a few too many people over to make your point. If it were just a couple maybe you could chalk it up them being sissies – too easily offended, but I’ve sat back and watched your name come up in various forums and it seems there’s a pattern.
I too am kind of a big personality and not too easily offended, and I’ve had to learn along life’s way that if being “true to myself” is hurting other people along the way, or the cause I’m passionate about, it might be time to re-evaluate.
Time for me to re-evaluate my approach? Mmmmm. That would most definitely be NO 🙂
The fact is that my hard hitting approach has helped the message of this blog reach thousands that would have never heard it. I get so many emails thanking me for being true to myself and I will most definitely continue to do so.
And here’s the real truth .. it doesn’t really matter what I say .. when you’ve got a blog like mine that addresses the tough issues you are going to get slammed regardless of how I say it. It’s always best to just be yourself!
And if being honest is overly hard hitting, then so be it. I’m am always going to be honest in my approach to blogging and say exactly what I feel needs to be said.
Mmmmm. That would most definitely be a predictable answer. 🙂
In order to make a lasting difference we have to see the value in humility, patience, tolerance, and find the ability to step out of our comfort zones. Even the teacher must be teachable.
Being honest and passionate about what one believes and being plainspoken about it is a very good and desirable thing. It’s the way I’ve always been my entire life and I would be proud to have it inscribed on my tombstone. That post was written exactly as I wanted it to be and I would write it again in a heartbeat. Many who have criticized it probably haven’t even read it through end to end else they wouldn’t be so abusive in their commenting elsewhere.
Abusive? I’ve read both blogs/comments in full and haven’t seen anything that qualifies as abuse. I’m not saying you should like what they’re saying but what I read was just a description of peoples experiences here. Sounds to me like people are being honest and plainspoken in much the same way you are. Doesn’t make any difference to me, but I’m a guy. Women don’t tolerate rudeness the way we do.
I completely agree with you Sarah, great article!! I buy ONE thing from our Whole foods and that is Organic/Jersey/Creamline/Grassfed yogurt…In NC it is the closest thing to Raw Milk we can get. So even though it’s $6+ for 32 oz it is worth it because my kids need their yogurt and I think this is way better than making my own with the pasteurized stuff even though it’s “local” milk, I don’t feel it’s near as quality milk as this yogurt is and my kids love it. The little general store near me does carry it but at $8+ a bottle, considering my kids go through yogurt like water, it’s just for now something I concede on for our health and budget sake.
But otherwise I truly despise whole foods. Almost everything that is “packaged” has CANOLA and/or SOY in it!!! Any of their packaged/deli type items, the hot bar etc is all loaded with canola or soy. And let’s not even talk about the “Hot Bar/salad Bar” and their deli etc…Almost none of it is even organic. All of the salad dressings have canola…even ALL of the dressings on the shelf on the counters. But that’s pretty much all the health food stores though, makes me sad that all the organics have so much soy and canola. :/
But anyway, I totally agree with you and am SOOOO motivated to get settled here (we just moved) and get our land and house started so I can then start the store I’ve been planning for the last 3 yrs. It WILL be GMO Free, and completely local and if not all “organic” I WILL know about the farming practices and that they “meet” most organic standards, most people here are pretty dedicated to healthy/safe crops even if they aren’t “certified” and I will show WF how it’s done! It’s not just going to be a grocery though, it will be a super awesome family place, so so much awesomeness, can’t wait to start it and share it wit the world that it can be done! 🙂
Whole Foods really is just an upscale WalMart (with a “go green” marketing focus) with a store layout that is so impressive and beautiful that people just love to go there. I just love the layout and feel of walking through Whole Foods. Who wouldn’t? Don’t get sucked in. Go get your boots dirty at your local farm instead. Much better for your children to see you make the commitment to buy local and choose not to buy (or buy as little as possible) from a 9 BILLION dollar corporation that gives lip service to local. Make a stand people!
Emilee, your store sounds wonderful. I wish you every success. Thank you so much for your plans to make the word better, and provide healthy food.
@Jocelyn A corporate behemoth like Whole Foods is not in any way the answer to moving us forward in the local, sustainable foods movement. They are causing small local businesses to struggle and even go under when they come to town. Shopping there supports their “take no prisoners” business model which is very much like what WalMart has been doing for the past 20 years or so.
@Rachel My local healthfood stores carry raw dairy and wide variety of healthy local and organic foods.