Actually Whole Foods is a very well run business that earns real profits for its shareholders. Probably the highest margins in the grocery industry. And the quality of their foods (meats included) are well worth the price paid.
Yes, you can spend less for your food at Wal-Mart but you get what you pay for. Mostly packaged foods with low nutrition and questionable produce, meats, dairy, etc.
I do not mind paying more for high quality food. And the anti-Whole Foods people exaggerate the price difference anyway. The price of staples such as eggs, milk, bread, yogurt, fruit, meat, etc., are comparable to other supermarkets. Now if you get things there that are exotic, such as fresh-caught fish from Norway flown in the night before on a plane, or gourmet chocolate from Switzerland or truffles from France, then yes, you will quickly run up a grocery bill that will approach that of a car payment. But if you stick to the essentials, you will pay maybe 20% more than a standard supermarket (30% more than Wal-Mart) and the price difference will be well worth it for the quality you get.
As for eggs, I moved to Connecticut recently and many of my neighbors keep egg-laying chickens in their yards. The eggs put store-bought to shame. And you are correct that the yolks are more orange than yellow - indicative of high nutrition content. Free range eggs are better - but like all good things, carry the higher price tag than what is mass-produced in an industrial setting.
It’s hard to believe that I would agree with someone from Connecticut, thinking to myself, is that in Europe? ;-)
Sorry, I’m originally from the midwest, we get our share of jokes too. However, I agree, if you shop carefully, that is, shop like myself, twice a year or so, Whole Foods has wonderful variety and quality of items, which are hard to find elsewhere.
Although, I now drive to McKinney, Tx, to an ordinary grocery store, and I find nearly the same products. This is why I love capitalism. Geez, even the nearly poor, live well.
And you are correct that the yolks are more orange than yellow - indicative of high nutrition content.
http://chemistry.about.com/od/foodcookingchemistry/fl/How-To-Change-Egg-Yolk-Color.htm
Foods That Naturally Influence Egg Yolk Color
Yolk Color Ingredient
nearly colorless white cornmeal
pale yolks wheat, barley
medium yellow yolks yellow cornmeal, alfalfa meal
deep yellow yolks marigold petals, kale, greens
orange to red yolks carrots, tomatoes, red peppers
I completely agree about Whole Foods, it is a great store. I shop at another grocery store as well because WF doesn’t carry somethings that I want, cleaning supplies for instance. I don’t especially like the organic vegetables but WF usually has conventional vegetables too. The fresh meat is excellent as is the uncured ham. I have a Vietnamese fish market for fish and crab. I shop just for the 2 of us and price isn’t a problem. If I had 10 hungry mouths to feed it might be different. I might have to go the WalMart route.
I completely agree about Whole Foods, it is a great store. I shop at another grocery store as well because WF doesn’t carry somethings that I want, cleaning supplies for instance. I don’t especially like the organic vegetables but WF usually has conventional vegetables too. The fresh meat is excellent as is the uncured ham. I have a Vietnamese fish market for fish and crab. I shop just for the 2 of us and price isn’t a problem. If I had 10 hungry mouths to feed it might be different. I might have to go the WalMart route.