Nevertheless, Whole Foods deserves kudos for labeling where their meat, seafood and produce come from and for carrying LOCAL produce in season. They are, for example, the only national chain that has gulf shrimp on a regular basis. The same can't be said for the larger chains, which seem to only carry "dirty water" shrimp from 'nam and Indonesia.
I have no gripe with Whole Foods. They offer premium goods at premium prices. You can get as good or better at farmer's markets for far less money, but it takes more time and effort. One of the trade-offs you have to make in life.
Whole Foods is at one end of the scale -- maximum money, minimum time. At the opposite end of the scale is growing your own, on your own land (if you're in the country), in your yard (suburbs) or in a community garden (city).
A friend of mine owns an organic farm in East Tennessee. The first time I had dinner at her house, I was amazed -- the veggies positively exploded with flavor. A far cry from homogenized supermarket fareor veggies that had the life canned or frozen out of them.
Ah ... er ... I'd like to make a point. Environmental and species regulations along American coastlines -- regulations sadly supported by many short-sighted but earnest conservatives -- make it very close to impossible for our food stores to offer much domestic harvest. Think of that the next time you don't sit down to a nice big platter of abalone steaks. Or the next time the only fish you can find (let alone afford) is from Indonesia instead of the nearest coast.