Re: Whole Foods buying local?

Dan Hook (guldann@ix.netcom.com)
Tue, 3 Aug 1999 06:52:58 -0400

Greg, I think you should call 20/20 etc. the darn shows are on every other
day. They could use the story :). I don't see much TV advertising for the
stores so they might just listen to you ie if the TV networks and Wild Oats
etc.aren't buddy buddy. I wouldn't be surprised if the guy in my paper
would agree to talk to them. This whole thread has been disturbing, in some
way more disturbing than the GE thread. Most of my CSA members joined
because they usually shop at "health" food stores and buying local chemical
pesticide free food was pleasing to them. But I have given them freezing
instructions etc. but of course they won't put up enough stuff to make them
self sufficient through the winter. (I am having trouble finding the time
heck I am having trouble finding time to eat!) Anyway so back to the stores
they'll go. The store around here is Wild Harvest. I know nothing about
them. The other one is tiny Living Earth. I do not think it's a chain and
would not be surprised if they buy local. There is a new one a few towns
away is it Nature's Heartland I think I read thats owned by a big company?
There is a store near me that I think buys local Stop and Shop they are own
by a big dutch I think company, but at least they buy some stuff. This is
what I heard from the guy who rents from us. Conventional stuff however.
Well when my son goes back to college and I can get my car back. I am going
to a little farm I found and stock up on there meat, other than beef that we
raise and I am about to have a freezer full. Greg keep up the good work.
The reason this is disturbing is that people like my members have decided
they want to buy organic, these store offer organic food. Say they wanted
to "protest" what would be their alternative? Where would they
realistically get their food. I say realistically because most are not
about to start up a large garden dig a root cellar, freeze food etc. The
organic movement succeeded it found customers, but still it seems
conventional market systems are prevailing. Heavens! Beth
-----Original Message-----
From: Greg & Lei Gunthorp <hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com>
To: Patricia Foreman <goodearth@rockbridge.net>; sanet
<sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu>
Date: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 12:17 AM
Subject: Re: Whole Foods buying local?

>It is high time someone calls them on their marketing gimmick. Because its
>too often the case that they don't even buy products that are
>natural/organic/or anything. They are conventional, non-local, and a huge
>premium. Its a joke. I'd be willing to forward my phone bill on to anyone
>that would like to see documentation. I've left at least one message a
>week to the Meat buyer for Wild Oats stores since March. I did get one
>return call and got explained how it was often too difficult to work with
>local farmers on meat and how they can't effectively distribute products.
>I already go by their stores! I've even left a message for their CEO. My
>next call is to 20/20, 60 minutes, or 48 hours. I'm drawing very near to
>making that call. I go by several of their stores on my Chicago delivery
>route and quite often I have boneless butterfly chops left over. It is too
>convenient for them to get their pork from Premium Standard Farms I guess.
>Yes, they are the third largest confinement operation in the country and
>the largest environmental polluter in the Midwest. I too have set in on
>their "speech" about buying local. Its a load of crap.
>Best wishes,
>Greg Gunthorp
>Free Range Hog Farmer
>
>----------
>> From: Patricia Foreman <goodearth@rockbridge.net>
>> To: sanet <sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu>
>> Subject: Whole Foods buying local?
>> Date: Tuesday, August 03, 1999 8:40 PM
>>
>> Earlier this year I attended a two-day organic symposium in Maryland. One
>of
>> the guest speakers was from Whole Foods. She spent 4 hours telling some
>50
>> farmers how hard it is to find local farmers to buy food from and how
>> desperately Whole Foods tries to do so. As far as I know, however, not
>one
>> farmer that day got any contract, or encouragement to grow for Whole
>Foods.
>> The following week I spent most of a day on the phone trying to connect
>with
>> buyers from Whole Foods stores in Maryland, Virginia an d North
>Carolina.
>> Not one person returned my calls. So much for supporting local farmers.
>I'm
>> afraid Greg Gunthorp is right, Whole Foods uses the "local farmer" bit as
>a
>> gimmick to increase sales of their mostly conventional products.
>>
>> Andy Lee
>> Good Earth Farm
>>
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