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What website are you talking about? The Whole Foods website was changed from their mid 2000s chalkboard design to the current one just last year. If you shop for groceries or goods from the site now, you're redirected to your local Instacart page. Instacart is a competitor to Amazon Fresh. The switch to Amazon delivering groceries hasn't been done yet. Instacart doesn't list all products either. I'd say 30% of a store's products, and that's being liberal. I see no point in you complaining.
 
"certified organic", dosnt matter what they call it. wholeFoods is an order of magnitude or two or three outside super market prices.
 
What does certified organic even mean?

Why is organic food desirable ? I get farmers markets and local produce, and I'm willing to pay a premium for it, but why would I care about something that's "certified organic"?
Why don't you buy eggs at the farmers' market?

For one thing, I have a better idea what the chickens are fed and I know they aren't in cages.
 
I've seen the same raw coconuts and berries from the same farms at Trader Joe's, Kroger and Whole Foods. Whole Foods isn't about organic. Growing organic doesn't cost as much as people claim it does. With organic, you still get to spray pesticides and stimulants. They're simply naturally derived and organic.

The idea behind Whole Foods is to serve different customers. Usually higher income customers. Compare Trader Joe's to Walmart. Or even Target to Walmart. Lots of riff-raff at Walmart. In California, we have a small chain of stores called Gelsons. Similar to Swanns in the PNW. Same products at Kroger or similar, more organic items, but overall, all the prices are higher than a similar store. The customer base at Gelson's or Swann's is similar to Whole Foods.

People do pay more out of convenience. The lines at Whole Foods or Gelsons are shorter, there's more stock on the shelves, employees are ready to jump in and help you with anything, and there's less riff-raff. I'm all for charitable needs, but I prefer donated to directly to charities. Not so-called representatives hanging outside a Kroger's.
 
Why don't you buy eggs at the farmers' market?

For one thing, I have a better idea what the chickens are fed and I know they aren't in cages.

I would. No issues with it. Just not available really
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A reason: Organic tastes better. For example, after eating organic bananas, I find non-organic bananas inedible.

Weird. Never found a difference in things like avocados or eggs or kale. To esch their own, just think it's not worth paying double
 
wholeFoods is an order of magnitude or two or three outside super market prices.

My experience is that where WholeFoods (WFDs) is significantly more expensive it's because the product is significantly better, meat and fish being prime examples. I'd rather have steak from WFDs 4 times per year at $16-$20/lbs than monthly from Walmart/Shaws/Kroger etc... at $6 or $7/lbs.

I did once observe that a gallon of milk at my local WFDs was cheaper than my local Walmart.

There are two other things that I think a lot of WFDs customers like about the company:

1. What they don't stock! They have a clear list of crappy ingredients that you won't find in their stores, so you never have to stop and think "which brand doesn't have the XXX in?".

2. They pay a decent wage, provide benefits and are constantly ranked as one of the top places to work, and it's evidenced in the attitude of the staff.

Thankfully I'm in the fortunate position where I can afford to shop at WFDs and enjoy these perks.
 
On the other hand, I can't justify the steak at Whole Foods when it isn't well marbled and their Tomahawks are a joke compared to my butcher's products at the same price. In nearly 18 years I've yet to see more than a few Whole Foods carry Prime grade beef of a high caliber. Especially 4" thick tomahawks with bone attached, coming in at around 4.5-6 lb.

The ribeye caps at Whole Foods are abysmal as well. They look more like select. The cap it the outer fatty loose portion of the bone in ribeye. It's very tender and very rich. Also not recommended if you suffer from cholesterol or at risk of heart attack. There are some niche products I can buy at WF for far cheaper than if I bought in bulk through the manufacturer, through Costco or Amazon. Their in-house coconut water is also tastier than the leading brands, and 10c cheaper than the cheapest brand name.

Little bit of coconut water, some tonic, gin, fizzy water and ice -- you're good to go.
 
... Their in-house coconut water is also tastier than the leading brands, and 10c cheaper than the cheapest brand name. Little bit of coconut water, some tonic, gin, fizzy water and ice -- you're good to go.
POINT WELL MADE FOR A FRIDAY AFTERNOON
so
can anyone recommend what is better than expected at Whole Foods
 
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wholeFoods is an order of magnitude or two or three outside super market prices.

I have to call BS on that. One order of magnitude is ten times the price. Three orders of magnitude is one thousand times the price.

Whole Foods charges on average of 15% more than typical grocery store as compared to Kroger, Wegman's, and Safeway (source). It charges 50% more than Walmart, a chain with a reputation for rock bottom pricing (source).

While I shop at all kinds of grocery stores, for meat in particular I prefer to buy from Whole Foods whenever I can. Sure, meat that comes from miserable and insufferable conditions sure is a lot cheaper, but I prefer to avoid that. It is not a coincidence that the cheapest meat comes from those states where it is illegal to take clandestine video of factory farm abuse.
 
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I have to call BS on that. One order of magnitude is ten times the price. Three orders of magnitude is one thousand times the price.

Whole Foods charges on average of 15% more than typical grocery store as compared to Kroger, Wegman's, and Safeway (source). It charges 50% more than Walmart, a chain with a reputation for rock bottom pricing (source).

While I shop at all kinds of grocery stores, for meat in particular I prefer to buy from Whole Foods whenever I can. Sure, meat that comes from miserable and insufferable conditions sure is a lot cheaper, but I prefer to avoid that. It is not a coincidence that the cheapest meat comes from those states where it is illegal to take clandestine video of factory farm abuse.

I guess having your throat slit before being grounded into meat is better than just being grounded into meat.
 
i am not vegan but you know how it works, to each their own.
 
I'm all for animal rights, but you won't find me writing a blog post or protesting against the butchering of edible animals. There's something pleasant about eating a medium rare or rare steak.
 
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