Comments on: Enough already: pick on someone bigger than Whole Foods, FTC.

By: John Mackey doesn't believe in human-caused Global Warming. | elephant journal

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:35:55 +0000

[...] urged the FTC to stop blocking WFM’s purchase of Wild Oats—though the consolidation was sad, Whole Foods had plenty of rivals left in the mainstream grocery [...]

By: Want to take a photo in Whole Foods? Sorry—it’s not allowed. | elephant journal

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:08:49 +0000

[...] power, I think) when we were informed we couldn’t take any photos. Not even of the outside Whole Foods sign. We grimaced, smirked, winked and agreed, then went ahead and took photos anyway. Still, we [...]

By: Guess: How much did John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods, make in 2008? 30K, 300K or $3 Million? | elephant journal

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:29:58 +0000

[...] much did beleaguered Whole Foods CEO John Mackey rake in last year? Here’s the answer—including [...]

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:49:12 +0000

I’m glad we’re having such a nice discussion in this forum, its really making me think.

Local products are good, but the idealist in me would also rather see the business and storefront owned by local people, and that is where my gripes with Whole Foods are coming into play. I can’t knock what they are doing, its all good, but I want there to remain room for local retailers as well.

By: anna gee

anna gee — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:48:53 +0000

balance is huge! But if we are going to have big super chains (and we will) we may as well have ethical ones that sell as much local as possible Maybe even have a set-up with the local farmers and specialize in local produce and meat.

Doesn’t Wholefoods sell mostly domestic products? I guess though, if Cali oranges are going to Boston that is not too good!

I do have to admit that I love me a really large expensive genetically engineered artichoke sometimes.

By: admin

admin — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:58:04 +0000

Amen, Anna. That said, the pendulum swinging to far either direction ain’t great…we do need to shop local whenever possible environmentally and economically, both. They say a local conventional apple is far more environmentally friendly overall (though not better for you) than an organic apple from far away, for exp—shipping by boat and trucking is not so good…the avg meal comes from 1500 miles away in the US right now. That’s a lot of gas.

By: anna gee

anna gee — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:43:29 +0000

The grass is always greener Ryan….

At least Wholefoods has an important message and supports the kind of businesses we need to be supporting. Wholefoods carries a ton of small indie company products and a Wholefoods in Ontario just made their first sample order from my eco/ethical business which just comes to show that yes all big business has to be somewhat corporate in order to grow and make money but the fact that they will put my products on their shelves is really cool. I mean come on, we cannot always be a perfect world where everyone buys local all the time and we all pat each other on the back for making our own beer and jam, in this day and age it is pretty much impossible. I do support local business of course but we do not live in the 18th century anymore.

Also, a lot of communities do not have local grocers that sell organic, where I live (in da boonies) we have a limited amount of stuff we can buy (usually about 2-3 meters of shelf space dedicated to organic products and that’s it. How about a huge store packed with them? I like the sound of that.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:48:05 +0000

But the FTC isn’t protecting coops…they’re basically protecting Safeway and King Soopers and the like from competition. Whole Foods has 15% of the eco market, far from ‘taking over.’ And they do a decent job promoting a ton of small eco companies, like Justin’s Nut Butter (sometimes great in that they offer loans, sometimes horrible in that they can crush a young company if they price them out or don’t shelve ‘em).

Your answer in Boulder is Farmer’s Market, which is huge and awesome (though sadly in need of a Winter home). The Boulder Co-op, where I served on the Board for a time, was woefully incompetent and died of natural causes, no pun intended—not merely because of competition.

That said, I wholly agree with the gist of what you’re saying—whenever you can, buy local and independent and in so doing protect ecosystem and corporate diversity.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:39:51 +0000

I have to disagree with Waylon on this one. Look at Boulder, we now have 4 Whole Foods (including Ideal Market) and the co-op is gone. Where is the locally-owned health food store?! I would much rather buy (truly) locally instead of supporting CEOs in Texas. Whole Foods is quickly taking over the country and it’s rather scary. All corporations are scary. I want ROOTS!

I don’t work for corporations, but it would be nice to work at a health food store. Plus, the selection is going downhill because all the grocery stores are owned by the same company.

Granted, its better than shopping at an (un)Safeway, but I’m giving Whole Foods way too much of my money when I would rather support local hippies and mom-and-pops.