As for the headline, truer words have not been spoken.

/ the meat they sell is outstanding, IMHO
// they get a small pass from me for that...

Both hands on your wallet just like *any* business.

As a fark independent would say, if you don't like it don't shop there.

WinCo Foods kicks their ass price wise.

/WinCo Foods once helped me feed a baby to a dingo

I hated Whole Foods, and their "organic" foods until I moved in above one. Being forced to shop there, I quickly learned that the only way to shop there and not break the bank was to just buy raw ingredients. I ended up a better cook, eating healthier food, and eating food that tasted better. Since I was buying raw ingredients I actually spent the same amount that I would have spent at a normal grocery store.

Haven't the Scots suffered enough?

Closed_Minded_Bastage: Haven't the Scots suffered enough?

They gave us golf. I say fark 'em

TXAGScott: I hated Whole Foods, and their "organic" foods until I moved in above one. Being forced to shop there, I quickly learned that the only way to shop there and not break the bank was to just buy raw ingredients. I ended up a better cook, eating healthier food, and eating food that tasted better. Since I was buying raw ingredients I actually spent the same amount that I would have spent at a normal grocery store.

Another thing about Whole Foods is that when they move into an area, they force other stores to step up their game.

I couldn't get any decent bread or produce in our area until they moved in. Then everyone else started "renovating" and now it's everywhere.

John Mackey, who founded the chain in Austin, the bohemian city in the great cowboy state of Texas

Texas is crawling with cowboys.

cowboys fans, maybe

Meh, I'll stick with Wards.

TomD9938: John Mackey, who founded the chain in Austin, the bohemian city in the great cowboy state of Texas

Texas is crawling with cowboys.

Bohemian Cowboys, apparently!

Monty 666: How do you suppose they make a Whole Foods Haggis? Free-range sheep's innards and organic oats and herbs? yecch!

I have to ask some one that lives near one since there isn't one around me;

Does Whole Foods carry 100% organic Spam? And if so, have you tried it or have a picture of it?

\just curious

Some stuff is more expensive at Whole Foods, but not everything... I've frequently found things like paper towels or aluminum foil to be cheaper than at a big market store like Shaw's.
In general, Whole Foods has more high-end goods - fancy oils and salts, etc. - so they give the impression that everything costs more, but they also have low end stuff, too.

gozar_the_destroyer: I have to ask some one that lives near one since there isn't one around me;

Does Whole Foods carry 100% organic Spam? And if so, have you tried it or have a picture of it?

\just curious

Spam is a name brand product and as far as i know they don't make an organic version.

Whole Foods does sell organic canned meat though.

Smeggy Smurf: Closed_Minded_Bastage: Haven't the Scots suffered enough?

They gave us golf. I say fark 'em

I've got to second this: Every golf course you see is the waste of a perfectly good rifle range.

Google for how Whole Foods sells their "Local" produce. No big surprise there.

They do pay their people better.

Also, some really good Turkey for Thanksgiving, none of that injected with turkey flavorings garbage.

First time I shopped at one was over the summer. It was the closest market within walking distance of my hotel. Interesting mixture of students, ironic hipsters, and large SUV drivers. Also interesting how many national brands have an organic variety specifically for these stores.

Will they sell organic deep-fried Snickers?

FlashHarry: some stuff there is expensive, yes. but their own-brand stuff (360) is pretty decent for the price. for example, their ginger ale and tonic water is $3/6pk, which is cheaper than the grocery store. as for meat - our costco has them beat, hands down for both quality and price.

But Costco can't match Whole Food's customer service. I've found that the butchers at Whole Foods will bend over backwards to get you what you need, which is a rarity at meat counters these days.

/Addicted to Costco

THEY DONT EVEN CELEBRATE RAMADAN

You can find some reasonably priced stuff if you look around, just disregard the $32 a pound buffalo steaks.

TXAGScott: I hated Whole Foods, and their "organic" foods until I moved in above one. Being forced to shop there, I quickly learned that the only way to shop there and not break the bank was to just buy raw ingredients. I ended up a better cook, eating healthier food, and eating food that tasted better. Since I was buying raw ingredients I actually spent the same amount that I would have spent at a normal grocery store.

totally THIS.

ScreamingHangover:
Another thing about Whole Foods is that when they move into an area, they force other stores to step up their game.



Which is exactly what Walmart does.

WhouleFouds

WholeMart?

TomD9938: John Mackey, who founded the chain in Austin, the bohemian city in the great cowboy state of Texas

Texas is crawling with cowboys.

Undoubtedly. Just last week, living in Dallas, I saddled up my horse and made the 4 hour ride down to Whole Foods to pick up sacks of meal for corn pone and a side of bacon for my yearly cattle drive. I was disappointed with the line at the gun checker but the grocier was fast and courteous, even throwing in a sack of beans for free. Traffic was heavy in the area because of the shootout in the town square (I arrived at high noon). Overall, my experience with Whole Foods was positive. I give it 4 out of 5 "Yee-haws."

Turkey thighs and sausages. Never anything else.

bluelancer03: TomD9938: John Mackey, who founded the chain in Austin, the bohemian city in the great cowboy state of Texas

Texas is crawling with cowboys.

Undoubtedly. Just last week, living in Dallas, I saddled up my horse and made the 4 hour ride down to Whole Foods to pick up sacks of meal for corn pone and a side of bacon for my yearly cattle drive. I was disappointed with the line at the gun checker but the grocier was fast and courteous, even throwing in a sack of beans for free. Traffic was heavy in the area because of the shootout in the town square (I arrived at high noon). Overall, my experience with Whole Foods was positive. I give it 4 out of 5 "Yee-haws."


Brilliant.

Why Glasgow? The population lives off deep fried pizzas, deep fried mars bars and beer.

Did Edinburgh tell them to take a hike?

TXAGScott: I hated Whole Foods, and their "organic" foods until I moved in above one. Being forced to shop there, I quickly learned that the only way to shop there and not break the bank was to just buy raw ingredients. I ended up a better cook, eating healthier food, and eating food that tasted better. Since I was buying raw ingredients I actually spent the same amount that I would have spent at a normal grocery store.

This...

ScreamingHangover:

Another thing about Whole Foods is that when they move into an area, they force other stores to step up their game.

I couldn't get any decent bread or produce in our area until they moved in. Then everyone else started "renovating" and now it's everywhere.

...That...

FlashHarry: our costco (omaha) is one of several costcos around the country offering USDA prime meats. if it's successful, they'll roll it out nationwide, i guess. either way, i love being able to buy prime steaks for the grill.

Not sure I care about prime. Prime is just a grade of fat marbling, which is usually a function of being almost solely corn-fed. I get my beef from a local rancher who lets the angus graze freely (in addition to feed). It has actual taste to it, but isn't 'prime. '

dittybopper: Smeggy Smurf: Closed_Minded_Bastage: Haven't the Scots suffered enough?

They gave us golf. I say fark 'em

I've got to second this: Every golf course you see is the waste of a perfectly good rifle range.

Go out there anyway; would be like skeet shooting, only harder.

If Whole Foods has something that you can't get at a normal market (or a better version of it) and you really want it or need it for a special recipe, then go ahead and get it. But if you do 100% of your shopping at Whole Foods you'll be paying ridiculous mark-ups for things that in many cases are no different or WORSE than what you'd get at a regular market. Ever try to unclog a toilet with "organic drain cleaner"? Good luck with that.

mekkab:
Not sure I care about prime. Prime is just a grade of fat marbling, which is usually a function of being almost solely corn-fed. I get my beef from a local rancher who lets the angus graze freely (in addition to feed). It has actual taste to it, but isn't 'prime. '

Grass fed certainly imparts a flavor to the beef, but not everyone finds it appealing. Beef fat is nearly universally appealing though, hence why 'prime' is a big deal. I enjoy a grass-fed steak, but I'm not sure I'd want it every time.

Personal rant: A lot of people just see 'prime' on the tag and never pay attention to the actual details of the cuts their getting. Cut thickness, marble content (there is massive variation with prime), grass fed/corn fed, bone in/bone out (who the hell buys boneless prime meat - stop it), etc..

Personal rant 2: It's good you have a local rancher/butcher - they're getting much harder to find. I can get to one, but the closest one that's worth the money is about 45 minutes away. Whole Foods / Central Market have roughly the same grade of beef, but it's much harder to get custom cuts and it tends to be a bit overpriced (maybe an extra 10%) over my local butcher though.

Closed_Minded_Bastage: Haven't the Scots suffered enough?

"It's shiatE being Scottish! We're the lowest of the low. The scum of the farking Earth! The most wretched, miserable, servile, pathetic trash that was ever shat into civilization. Some hate the English. I don't. They're just wankers. We, on the other hand, are COLONIZED by wankers. Can't even find a decent culture to be colonized BY. We're ruled by effete assholes. It's a shiatE state of affairs to be in, Tommy, and ALL the fresh air in the world won't make any farking difference!"

~Wholefoods employee

dittybopper: Smeggy Smurf: Closed_Minded_Bastage: Haven't the Scots suffered enough?

They gave us golf. I say fark 'em

I've got to second this: Every golf course you see is the waste of a perfectly good rifle range.

Tiny moving targets.