The “Whole Foods” Experience

Went to Wholes Foods [....saw alotta of peaches(Random, I know, but I had to... LOL)] and I have some reflections to share…

Remember the first time you went in Whole Foods. If you were raised anything like me, you would have been in awe. Yeah, I was in awe.

[Flashback music]

Growing up, grocery shopping was never a big deal, and not done all that much. I would go with my mom to Randall’s or Kroger’s or [if we really wanted a bargain, Foodarama. Like any other kid I would indulge with the complimentary cookie from the bakery section, fight with my sister over who would push the cart, try to sneak in my "private request" into the basket, or skim through comics in the magazine section. Eventually I grew into that teenager that simply just waited to hear the garage go up to help bring in grocery. [By the way, I always aimed to bring them all in with one trip...always]

College comes along and now I’m shopping for myself. And grocery shopping isn’t the most pleasant thing. HEB or Wal-Mart is always crowded. It’s hard to find help in the store. Parking sucks. If I wanted to, I’d complain about the fluorescent lighting and white tiles floors.

But I’m use to all that….that’s just how is it grocery shopping in the city.

Then upon advice and my ongoing quest to becoming a “homemade chef”, I went to Whole Foods. Allow me to share my first day:

1. I parked in the Whole Foods parking garage aside luxury vehicles galore.
2. I ride an escalator up to the ground floor.
3. I enter the cozy, wood-floor, interior decorated store and I’m greeted by several employees.
4. I ask for help from an employee about their vast selection of granola, and I was told everything I possibly needed to know about granola.
5. On every aisle I walk through I ran into many ‘Whole Foods patrons’ who are friendly and more than willing to talk about their passion for the food in that aisle. For example, i ran into a charming older couple that told me a story about how they met in ‘Whole Foods’ when they were both looking for the same kind of specialty pecans.
6. The policeman in the store looked like he came start out ‘Pleasantville’, whistling and smiling at everyone.
7. The cashiers were older, professional, friendly, and seemed like they enjoyed their job. I bet they have degrees.
8. Upon inquiring on a certain type of butter, I was given the item for free as a “sample” by the employee [they do that ALL the time and it's legit]
9. Um… $1000 wine bottles in the back
10. Every part of the store had a mini-restaurant [ no cart valet though]
11. Not one rotten apple….
12. My reciept.

I can’t help but notice the extreme differences between the grocery shopping I’m use to..and this.

Luxury Grocery Shopping?

I wonder why everyone can’t shop like this. Supposedly Whole Foods has the best quality of foods and diet, in comparison to your average everyday grocery store.

I know my observation is not unique or novel. This same extreme differences can be observed etween any buildings of the same purpose on different sides of town.

Wholes Foods is the largest retailer of natural and organic foods. Whole Foods is made for the bougie. It’s on the nice side of town for a reason. Supposedly, Whole Foods is purposely placed in higher income areas. And with the market price of organic food, Whole Foods wouldn’t dare set up shop in East Austin.

Bells & Whistles asides, research shows that healthier foods are less likely Click here for article: “Healthy Food Scarce in Poor Neigborhoods”.

The richer you are, the better diet you have. The longer you live. The more you prosper.

I don’t why it took a glorified grocery store for this realization to slap me in the face again today.

My community has vast amount of issues with our diets. Diabetes. High Cholesterol. And I know that back when my grandparents were coming up, all they had was organic food.

My ‘Whole Foods issue’ is just a microcosm of a bigger problem. I realize that.

Not everyone gets the free samples and customer service. I appreciate the “Whole Foods” experience, but I remain conscious of where I am always, and realize that Whole Foods isn’t something that everyone experiences.

Meh…I know it’s just grocery shopping, but you gotta think about this kind of stuff.

~ by justinfication on November 12, 2008.