How I spent $300 at the Whole Foods Supermarkets in Massachusetts (and lived to tell about it)

[Ditter]

I shop at Whole Foods all the time. The beef/meat is great! I only buy vegetables if they are conventionally grown, organic vegetables are fertilized with poop (if they really are organic). They do have some weird brands on their shelves. I almost called the cops on a guy who left his dog closed up in the car, but it wasn't you. Of course it was Houston and it was 90+ degrees and the car was parked in the sun.

[Hildy]

I’ve been to Whole Foods...I’m just saying the way someone looks or dresses has nothing to do with their work ethic.

[Hildy]

My family is from MA, I was born and raised on Long Island and I moved to AZ from San Diego five years ago. Again, it does not matter what someone looks like. That guy with the body piercings probably invented something that you use everyday. That’s my only point. I think WHOLE FOODS is what makes America Great. Some people spend their money on good quality clothes, better cars, etc. So what if they want to spend it on food.

[PLMerite]

My little oval sticker says FUBO.

[TigersEye]

That guy with the body piercings probably invented something that you use everyday.

The handkerchief attached to the shirt sleeve with velcro.

[FreedomGuru]

“That guy with the body piercings probably invented something that you use everyday. “

Like Antibiotics?

[ladyjane]

I've been to Whole Foods

But have you been to one in the Boston/Cambridge area? They're pretty amazing.

[FourPeas]

Thank you for your very entertaining post! I’ve wanted to stop in a Whole Foods for years. The closest one, though, is several hours away. Usually when I’m in A Big City, I’m just too busy with other stuff; I’ll have to allot some time on my next trip. It sounds like a hoot.

[FourPeas]

ROFLOL!

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

The point I take away from all this is that we are becoming a more tribal nation by the day. And that tribal members can identify one another and identify “enemy” tribe members on sight. Not too different then if a Lakota Sioux walked into a Commanche supermarket back in the day.

I personally think the disconnect is that while we have no trouble identifying members of other tribes while we tend to be mildly surprised when they identify us. And we shouldn’t be.

[Little Bill]

If you are familiar with the cooking term Lardon. You use lardons to make free range beef edible. There is nothing that you can buy at the local grocery that with a little scrubbing and basic cooking techniques produces a meal anyway inferior to one produced from items bought at twice the cost from Whole Foods.

I am thankful that was I exposed to the family farm and the produce that was raised there upon for family consummation in the early Fifties. Quantity plentiful, quality sucked. Give me hormone injected beef and fat chicken, I don't eat fish, I make meals that my ancestors only dreamed of.

When the Iron Faced boy served you did you ask him how the bath house was?

[cynwoody]

Trader Joe’s rocks! Who was the CEO of a chain like this who went after Obama about healthcare tax? Was it the Whole Foods guy? Whomever it was - he is a good guy.

It was the Whole Foods founder, John Mackey.

John Mackey at a store in Austin, Texas. To “the people that really dislike us,” he says, “Whole Foods is a big corporation, so they think that we’ve crossed over to the dark side.” Photograph by Dan Winters.

Read more here. The article calls Mackey a right-wing hippie. It was motivated by Mackey's Wall Street Journal piece of last August 11: The Whole Foods Alternative to ObamaCare, subtitled "Eight things we can do to improve health care without adding to the deficit". The 'tards were not pleased. Some called for a boycott on WFM.

I agree on Trader Joe's, by the way. We have both TJ's and Whole Foods (aka Whole Paycheck, according to the above-linked article) here, and I shop at both.

[Redmen4ever]

My wife says:
I happen to love Whole Foods Market (Fairfax, VA), especially since I am on a restricted diet (gluten-free). I have been eating more organic, whole foods in the past 3 years since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease. These foods are not too much more expensive than Giant or Martins; however, they are much tastier and healthier—I am middle-aged, slim, and healthy. Concerning the crowd that shops at WFM: I have observed a wide variety of patrons, from businessmen to “aging hippies” to everyone in between. They do cater to a variety of religions, such as selling mini Bhudda statues, crystals, and incense. I am an open-minded, relatively conservative Christian and am not offended, as I shop there for the food and other organic products, such as soap and vitamins.
The many interesting organic brands (usually not found in a regular grocery store or in limited stock) are delicious, as is the changing selection of GF Whole Foods Bakery baked goods. Yes, some prices are higher, but I am fortunately able to pay a little more for foods I can find nowhere else (I drive 70 miles just to shop here).
To sum up, Whole Food Market is the best grocery store around!

[don-o]

ping

[combat_boots]

Whole paycheck really does have real celery. Tastes like REAL celery because it is.

The cheese is, well, outta here. Robusto. Appenzeller. My dear Lord. There are not words.

And you just want to stand in awe in front of the bakery items. The produce display is practically Japanese in its simplicity of orderliness, aroma and the experience of it all.

Heady stuff.

I go there extremely infrequently. It is Whole Paycheck, after all.

[surroundedbyblue]

Wow!! You sound just like me! No processed crap in my house. All wild-caught fish, grass fed beef, and organic free range chicken. I’ve gotten very, very into nutrition & clean eating since my kiddo was born. I don’t give her processed junk & she is a very well-behaved toddler with an amazing attention span.

I just want to add, though, that I do buy organic bananas. I read in Consumer Reports that organic bananas have 40% more nutrients than non-organic. I personally think they taste better, too. Much creamier & very rich.

Keep up what you’re doing. I love knowing it’s not just me! God bless you!

[surroundedbyblue]

Did not know that!! I buy lots of dark chocolate at TJs. I’ll have a square as a treat after I finish my run.

[surroundedbyblue]

I agree. I’ve met wonderful people at WF. I may not agree w all their politics but I pray for them. These people do understand customer service. They typically have manners & are as helpful as can be. I believe that attitude trickles down from their CEO who genuinely cares for his employees. BTW, he’s not a lib but not quite conservative either. He is a self-proclaimed libertarian.

See WSJ archives from last October for his op-ed on Obamacare

[Little Bill]

I am a fan of End of Civilization Novels, man reverts to the basics, Strum und Drang, Nasty, Brutish, and Short type of things. I have often wondered how the WF crowd would react. I have read history all my life and have a good Idea but do they?

[Greysard]

I was at Whole Foods once, just to see what’s there. Bought milk and french bread. Of course both were “organic” - no preservatives. Upon returning home (30 minutes later) I discovered that the bread is now fit to drive nails with, and the milk is bitter. Preservatives are added to food for a good purpose. I managed to use most of this stuff without much harm to myself, but I will never repeat the mistake of setting foot into that store.