According to public records, shares for Whole Foods are down nearly 35%. So the headline Whole Food is struggling is not sensational. It’s true. And the buzz has been that a new ‘rewards’ program is in the making.
So now it’s on record. A spokesperson for Whole Foods confirms that “the company plans on testing the program in a store in Princeton, New Jersey and will expand the trial to Philadelphia towards the end of this year. The plan is to launch the program nationwide by late 2015”.
Whole Foods has never offered deals or discounts. There’s some stiff competition out there these days from our favorites like Jimbo’s and Trader Joe’s ….. but in today’s market? You’ll find organic produce at Ralph’s, Von’s and even at Costco and Stater Bros.! That’s got to be part of the reason Whole Foods’ stock is down.
And locally sourced organic veggies? You can find them at the Farmer’s Markets all over the city, all over the county these days. Now, living in San Diego, we’re pretty lucky to have great produce all year long. And if you buy the right amounts (just for a day or two) and stop wasting all those veggies and fruits that go bad in the drawer? You will find it’s just a little more expensive to be organic than not. I promise. I’m right on this one.
Wait till the end of this week and go into the fridge and make a bag of everything that went bad. Do a cost analysis. Get my point?
YES CHEF!
I’m pretty sure the way of the future is organic and for good reason. It’s better for you, you can process it easier than food with chemicals or corn for example that is genetically modified, which is all corn except organic….. and now, it’s wonderful to see the price of organic at certain stores coming down. For me? What really counts is the quality of the organic. I mean, if the celery isn’t green, I’m not going to be buying it, organic or not. Right?
RIGHT CHEF!
I spent an entire Sunday going store to store and pricing organic. Seeing what stores have the better quality organic. And here are my unscientific personal findings that I believe to be true. Ready?
YES CHEF!
My all time favorite is Jimbo’s. But not the Jimbo’s at The Forum Shops in Carlsbad. That location for one reason or another, doesn’t get the great produce. It’s the Jimbo’s in Del Mar that does. Maybe it’s just the way the staff takes care of the produce, with care and love (unlike Ralph’s in that same mall that has a wall of organic produce and no real experts). But bravo Ralph’s just the same for bringing in more organic! Other foot? There are things I find at Jimbo’s I just won’t find at Ralph’s. Elderberry to keep my immune system kicking it? Jimbo’s. Cheap pasta? Ralph’s. Excellent produce? Jimbo’s. Egg Roll wrappers and big 2 1/2 gal jugs of water? Ralph’s, sometimes Von’s. Vegan desserts? Jimbo’s. Less expensive, good quality organic chicken? Ralph’s. And even Trader Joe’s.
Will I pick Kroger Organic Spices over other organic spices at Ralph’s? I will not. And I base that on how the spices look.
If I have the chance to buy non organic spice that looks good and is cheaper over organic spices?
WILL YOU CHEF?
I will not. These are the things I flavor my food with. I want fresh and I want organic. I want nothing to interfere, no concern about how things were grown, to get in the way of good flavor. Remember that!
THANKS CHEF!
Happy Eating,
Chef Marian