The Mothership
I am currently in Austin, Texas attending the PaleoF(x) Conference being held at the University of Texas. I am having such a great time and enjoying meeting many of the movers and shakers of the Paleo movement which has much in common with the nutritional principles of Dr. Weston A. Price.
I had the pleasure this morning of reconnecting with Nora Gedgaudas, author of the book Primal Body, Primal Mind since first meeting her at Wise Traditions 2010 in Philadelphia. Nora is one of my favorite leaders in the Paleo movement and hands down one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. I could listen to Nora for 2 weeks straight and never get bored. She is one fascinating, ultra intelligent lady.
I can’t wait to listen to Nora’s talk tomorrow. She told me that she has quite a bit of new information to share since her 2010 talk that I summarized in a post not too long ago called Depression: Your Brain on Sugar. Her talk tomorrow will no doubt be a highlight of the Conference for me. I’m sure I will be writing a post or two about it in the not too distant future.
This afternoon, I participated on a panel exploring ideas in Ancestral Nutrition for Babies, Tots, and Children. Paleo Moms and Dads really get how to feed their children right, although the emphasis on sacred foods from the research of Dr. Price proved very intriguing for many in the audience who stopped by the Weston A. Price booth in the vendor area to seek more information on the subject.
After the sessions closed for the day, I went out to dinner with Kristen of Food Renegade who happens to live here in Austin. Kristen is a fellow Real Food Media blogger and we had a super time at Kerbey Lane Cafe, a chain of Austin based restaurants that focuses on sourcing its ingredients locally.
Kristen and I shared Kerbey Queso which is guacamole covered with queso and topped with pico de gallo and then dug into Greek herbed lamb burgers wrapped in grilled pita bread with tomatoes, onions, feta cheese and tzatziki sauce. I’m actually chowing down on the leftovers right now as I type this. It was so delicious I just had to doggy bag for later what I couldn’t finish in the restaurant.
Toward the end of our meal of talking and giggling about blogging and kids, Kristen casually mentioned that she had seen my post on Whole Foods from a couple days before and would I like to go see the Whole Foods Mothership (yes, these are Kristen’s exact words).
You see, Austin is coincidentally the headquarters of Whole Foods. So, Kristen and I pile into her car and drive over to check it out. I must admit that I was indeed impressed at the sight. The original Whole Foods grocery store is intertwined with the Whole Foods Corporate Headquarters in one gargantuan mega complex spanning an entire city block in both directions.
Standing in awe on the sidewalk taking in this impressive view, there seemed to me to be no doubt that Whole Foods is indeed another Walmart in the making.
Only time will tell for sure, but as of now, the Mothership clearly has the upper hand over farmers markets and local businesses.
More on PALEOf(x) in the coming days!
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
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{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
In addition to calling it “The Mothership,” I also call it the “God of all Grocery Stores” because it’s got to be the size of several football fields — all filled with beautifully arranged, eye-catching displays of glorious food.
Sarah, I appreciate your predicament and agree that if I had to choose between Whole Foods and a more local natural grocer, I’d opt for the more local store. That said, Whole Foods has done and continues to do a lot of good bringing well-sourced foods to communities that have little to no access to such wonders. For that reason alone, I’m hard-pressed to condemn the whole chain.
As I said on your first post, I won’t let the ideal be the enemy of the good. Kudos to Whole Foods for bringing authentically good foods to new markets.
But, as in your own case, your local mom and pop natural grocer faces extinction due to the encroachment of a national chain like Whole Foods, don’t send your money to the corporate headquarters pictured above! Stand up for these authentically local small businesses, particularly if they’re doing things you love (like selling local raw milk when your Whole Foods has opted not to).
Vote with your dollars in the most meaningful way possible. If that means buying only real food at Whole Foods and avoiding their overly-processed organic or so-called “natural” junk, then so be it. If that means buying from a local mom and pop natural grocer instead of Whole Foods, so be it. If that means buying at a nearby farm stand, so be it.
Our money talks. And it changes the shape of the American food system.
OOPS. Meant to write, “But, as in your own case, IF your local mom and pop…”
Well said, Kristen
Thanks for taking me to see the Mothership. It gave me a deeper perspective on the Whole Foods versus local businesses situation that is evolving in communities across America.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: PaleoF(x) And Whole Foods Ground Zero
I live in Austin as well. Are there really any Mom & Pop grocery stores here that actually sell good, natural food? The only ones I have found do not sell things that I would even think of buying: all processed junk (just moved here 6 months ago). I would love to find out if some of these stores actually exist that sell awesome, whole, real foods. I buy most of our food from farms and farmer’s markets, but I do go to places like HEB or even Whole Foods when I can’t find certain things – I would love to switch over and go elsewhere if a place exists. Thanks, Sarah!
Amanda @ Nourish to Flourish\’s last post: Building a Medicine Cabinet: Elderberry Syrup
Amanda, I buy all my meat, veggies, and dairy from local farms and at farmer’s markets. I also shop at HEB and occasionally Sprouts for the things I can’t find directly from farmers.
The Austin area has a couple smaller co-ops, like Wheatsville, that I’ve heard good things about. Unfortunately, I live way up in Georgetown, so I’ve never really had the need find food sources right in Austin. Of course, as with any store, not *everything* will be 100% real food. But, they probably have a good selection of eggs, dairy, meats, seafood, & produce and a few choice other products (like Bubbies pickles!) that would make it worth a visit.
Amanda, I also live in Austin. I haven’t stepped foot in WF in years, even though the (current) North store is just down the street from me. I shop often at Sprouts and the fairly new-to-Austin Natural Grocer, farmers’ markets, occasionally HEB and direct from the farmers for raw milk and good beef. I have never been to Wheatsville because it just isn’t on my path. We used to enjoy Sun Harvest (RIP), too.
Check out Natural Grocer if you haven’t, they have great selection, good prices and amazing sales!
How do people in the Paleo world embrace you and others in the WAP world? What are the main differences between the two lifestyles? Thanks!
I was greeted with nothing but open arms here at Paleof(x). These folks are awesome and we all get along very well despite some of the differences in our viewpoints on the consumption of grains, for example. There is no need for 100% agreement on every single thing for us to work together and help each other’s progress on this road back to nutrient dense foods and sustainability however. We have more in common than not and we would all do well to focus on what we have in common and work together for the common good. We are a much stronger force working together than we are separate.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: PaleoF(x) And Whole Foods Ground Zero
Lots of similarity’s… but would you have been warmly welcomed if they read your other paleo blog? http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/why-i-dont-eat-paleo-or-primal/
LOL. I am kidding of course. I think in your “Why I don’t eat Paleo…” post you respectably address the differences.
As those of you who read this blog know .. I never sugarcoat what needs to be said and will always tell you exactly what I think .. but with a smile on my face and as respectably as possible albeit very direct and forceful at times
There is room for disagreement and just because folks disagree doesn’t mean they can’t respect and work with each other.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: PaleoF(x) And Whole Foods Ground Zero
Don’t ever change, Sarah! You are helping so many!
Nicole, The Non-Toxic Nurse\’s last post: Stop Paying for Poison . . . Please!
Sarah – I agree that to sugarcoat anything does no one any good and I stand behind your philosophy about Whole Foods. I’m not one to sugarcoat anything, and I tell it like it is
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I also wrote a post about why I won’t shop at the new Whole Foods coming to Boise this summer on my blog last month, I’ve certainly heard a few very disgruntled responses to it, but that’s just life. Not everyone will agree, and so the world turns. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you behave disrespectfully to anyone, and the information you present here seems sound and reasonable to me. I conduct what I do with my own blog in a similar manner, bringing the facts for others to read. If they don’t agree, then that’s their choice. Anyone who wants to have a blog has a freedom to do so, after all .
Raine\’s last post: What’s the Real Scoop on Red Meat and Higher Mortality Rates?
Thanks for adding a link to that post, I had some how missed it. That helped answer my questions.
Thanks Raine. I try to be kind and respectful, but we all have our moments. I can get testy at times just like anyone else. I think the readers here understand though as being a blogger you get snarky or even mean comments on an almost daily basis and some days it just gets old and the claws come out for a bit.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: PaleoF(x) And Whole Foods Ground Zero
my friend in Austin refers to it as “Mecca”
If you have more down time check out Lick Ice Cream on S Lamar. They’re using locally sorced products and dairy from TX Daily Harvest. A scoop of bacon with a scoop of caramel is an awesome combo. Had some last month when I was there.
“Only time will tell for sure, but as of now, the Mothership clearly has the upper hand over farmers markets and local businesses.”
Only if we let them. Yes, I can see whole foods having a niche in areas of little choice, but I. Areas of great local choices, it is up to the individuals to make sure it doesn’t become a corporate take over.
ladyscott\’s last post: Possible Diagnosis of Exhaustion
Austin itself is the Texas “mecca” for real foods, LOL
I love the read..all the way up to the very picturesque description of what you ate for dinner!! LOL, it sounds so good my stomach started to ping! Glad to hear you are having a good time.
Can’t wait to hear about the talk Nora Gedgaudas gives. Thank you for sharing.
Just finished listening to Nora speak just now. ELEVEN pages of notes. Wow. I just want to connect an electrode from my brain to her brain and do a download. She has so much incredible info to share.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: PaleoF(x) And Whole Foods Ground Zero
Welcome to Austin! Where we call Whole Foods – “Whole Paycheck”!
OK, on a “funny” but also “kinda sad” note – this is an e-mail that a disgruntled Whole Foods employee wrote when he or she quit, basically confirming the “Wal Mart” concept.
http://static.happyplace.com/assets/images/2012/03/4f5f5d5fede2a.jpeg
Persephone Raynes\’s last post: General Announcement
I completely agree that it’s best to work together and focus on shared values. We can all learn from one another.
As for Whole Foods, I think it’s important to keep a rather large and looming issue in mind: that of GMOs. Whether or not you shop there, WF is a huge corporation with the power to influence food policy and push for meaningful reform and restrictions concerning GMOs.
They have this power, but they refuse to use it. They could make great strides in revealing the truth about GMOs, educating their consumer base, holding their suppliers accountable and at a bare minimum advocating for labeling laws.
So many of their products contain GMOs without labeling, as do other stores — but the difference is that many shoppers have the mistaken impression that WF has higher standards along these lines and have weeded out such products. The other difference is that they are in a unique position to do something about it. Everyone should demand that they step up to the plate and take a proactive role in this effort, given their green image and position of power and influence, rather than giving the issue lip service and backing down to the pressures of Monsanto, DOW, Cargill and the like.
This is a matter of citizen and corporate responsibility. Unless we all take responsibility and speak up, there will be a point at which GMO contamination will wreak such widespread harm to the planet and to us that it will be irreversible.
If I shopped at Whole Foods when I could have spent the money with a local business or farmer’s market instead, I would not be able to sleep at night.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: PaleoF(x) And Whole Foods Ground Zero
Sarah I think you need to exhale, girl! Life is too short to stress so much! I’m not sure all the organic, grass-fed, WAPF food in the world can make up for it! Do what you can with whatcha got each day and sleep like a baby! I do.
No, sorry. This is a serious issue and people are taking it way too lightly.
Whole Foods is causing small businesses to go under in communities around the country just like WalMart. The glitz and wide selection of Whole Foods have blinded many to the reality that Whole Foods is a parasite and no friend of the local, sustainable food movement. I know a local producer here in FL that tried to get his (excellent) products into the Whole Foods here (the other one not near my house). He was told it would take 6 months and loads of paperwork to do so. He did everything he was told and never heard back. They are a corporate black hole that is all about profits with a glitzy “go green” facade.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: PaleoF(x) And Whole Foods Ground Zero
I completely agree with Sarah on this point, which is why I wrote the post that I did about Whole Foods:
http://agriculturesociety.com/healthy-living/8-reasons-i-wont-shop-at-whole-foods-when-it-opens-in-boise-idaho/
I also commented extensively on how people in my community are bashing our wonderful, local health food store which has worked tirelessly for decades to be a community-based business and support as many local, organic, sustainable businesses as it possibly can. They even sell raw milk, and milk that I’d actually drink (and my standards are very high).
So when I hear people complaining and threatening to take their business to WFs when it comes, and stop supporting our local food growers, farmers, and this store which provides many jobs for local folks, it boils me. And what’s worse is that WFs is very expensive and a great deal of their products are not even truthfully labeled, so they are not going to be saving any money, even though somehow they continue to insist this is not the case. I’m not being a snob or expecting perfection, but I do expect truthfulness, and time and time again, WFs has proven they are not trustworthy with their anti-GMO campaigns going and then not answering questions about whether they have GMOs in their store, placing signs everywhere touting their ubiquitous “local” support of food growers, when most products I look at on the shelf or in the produce section say otherwise (I’m a fanatic label reader, and I’ve only seen about maybe 10 percent of the products in their stores since I started shopping there almost 2 decades ago that would fit the “local” description). I’ve also asked store employees a lot about whether something is grass-fed, local, or GMO and I’ve consistently received answers that no, the foods are not actually local, or no, the meat is not 100% grassfed, or no answer at all about whether something is GMO or not.
I’ve never heard of anyone in our local community who wanted to get their products at the Boise Co-op, our amazing health food store having to deal with the nightmare Sarah has described with the farmer she knows trying to get his products into WFs. Big corporations naturally are less trustworthy because profit becomes the bottom line item for everything they do. WFs makes billions of dollars annually, and much of it is from their revenue in supporting GMO foods. This is why consumers must be particular about who they support, and find out where the food is really coming from. And if it’s not what it should be, find something that is. Otherwise, all we can expect for the future is more of the same: sustainable labeled products that really aren’t.
Raine\’s last post: What’s the Real Scoop on Red Meat and Higher Mortality Rates?
I don’t take this issue lightly at all. I think it’s very important. I have a friend who started a small business making homemade pepper jellies, and now has her jellies regionally in Whole Foods. She indicated it was not a particularly difficult process and the partnership is thriving. No “nightmare” involved. I think there’s so much hyperbolic language being used here.
How about raw milk? Raw milk producers in Florida were shown the door a couple years back because Whole Foods turned its back on local dairy producers.
The “grassfed beef” I saw there was from Australia (what about the many many producers in Tampa?) and it had MSG added. I doubt it was even grassfed beef at all.
Whole Foods and Monsanto are buddies. They are both multi-billion dollar conglomerates and their executives move in the same circles. Shop at Whole Foods if you like .. I see them for what they are and won’t support them.
Raw milk is a complicated issue, and you know that. Any company who sells raw milk has to weigh the pro’s and con’s of legal ramifications. It’s unfortunate, but true.
With regard to grass-fed beef from Australia, I would like to know if you refuse to support US Wellness meats who has the support of MANY WAPFer’s? Here is a quote form their website:
“Recent popularity has created supply issues that we have resolved by working with a group of elite grass farmers on the Island of Tasmania off the coast of Australia. The climate is utopia for cattle with year round maritime climate buffered by the Southern Ocean. No hormones or GMO’s are allowed on the island. Air quality is recognized as the gold standard for purity on the globe. Tasmania is slightly larger than the state of West Virginia and covered with some of the finest grass in the world.”
Do you also doubt theirs is “grassfed beef at all”? Will you boycott them because you “don’t make excuses for the inexcusable”? And at what point has a company thrived too much, or made too much money, indicating we should cease supporting them? Where’s the line? My pasture-based farmer just extended his delivery time because he’s getting so much business (in a metropolitan are where there’s @ least half-dozen Whole Food’s Markets! *GASP!*). At what point do I decide he has had just toooo much success and should probably boycott him?
My Whole Foods sells 100% grass-FINISHED beef from our local farms, pastured berkshire pork, and grass-fed offal. And it tastes NOTHING like “leather”, as I’ve seen you have indicate before. (Note: People, if your 100% grass finished beef tastes like leather, you need to find a new farmer. Somethin’ ain’t right!) I too am from Tampa Bay (Clearwater) and absolutely love our spending our money @ “Nature’s Food Patch” when we visit my family, and supporting a small business is fantastic – but they carry the SAME items my Whole Foods carries, and Whole Foods is what I have near my current home. I have no shame in spending my money there.
I don’t know how the Whole Foods stores are in other states but the ones near me are nothing more than glorified Walmarts. They have two things I get at my other local health food store (Vitamin Cottage,) deionized water (they have a machine) and my favorite butter (although I could get the butter online and no it isn’t kerrygold.) I went there yesterday for my water (that I get in glass jugs) and asked the meat man if there was any grass-fed grass-finished organ meat in the store. Not only was there no grass-fed organs there were no flipping organ meat at all. And they don’t carry any grass-fed, grass-finished meats. Most of their fresh seafood is farmed. During the holidays last year, they had “soy to the world signs” everywhere. Again, WF in different states may offer better goods. And I take back my statement about WF being nothing more than glorified Walmarts; they are worse. At least when you go to Walmart you expect to buy crap.
Wow that’s such a shame! I wonder why that is? I’ve lived in three different states and none of my local Whole Foods have resembled any Walmart I’ve ever been in at all. Weird. The one near my current home is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. So much local and regional WAPF friendly stuff to choose from. They often have little samplings of the from the local companies on the weekends, so it’s fun to try new stuff. Only local “health food stores” I’ve found around here mostly sell vitamins (for a lot of $$$!). We also have great farms, farmers markets, etc, and they generally get my money first, but our Whole Foods is awesome.
I am really interested in hearing about your panel discussion: Ancestral Nutrition for Babies, Tots, and Children. As a mom of a 15 mos old, I was wondering if there are any books out there that zero down on this specifically.
Thanks much!
The session was taped so you probably can get the DVD. Here’s the link: http://www.paleofx.com/schedule/
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: PaleoF(x) And Whole Foods Ground Zero
I so wish I was there with you! Can’t wait to hear more.
Paula\’s last post: March 16, 2012
If you can’t find a particular item at the farmers’ market, just ask a few farmers if they are willing to grow it. As a farmer, I am always interested in what my customers are looking for. It may take a while to source the inputs to grow what they need, but I’m usually willing to try if I think others have a similar need and I can make it cash flow. Also, if you are short on money, you can always ask about working for the farmer. Most are willing to trade labor for food and you’ll get up and personal with your food. Lastly, we don’t have WF here, we have Natural Grocers. It’s a national chain and they don’t buy locally. I watched their feel good video about how their turkeys are raised and could spot several shortcomings compared to my birds. I was told that they wouldn’t be interested in my birds, no matter if they were better, that’s not corporate policy. I wonder if their customers know that? One last thing, chain stores often make the farmers carry outlandish ammounts of liability insurance, this automatically discourages the smaller farmers without them having to directly say no.
After reading your blog for awhile it seems to me that you’ve some sort of an axe to grind that’s focused on the symptoms as opposed to the root cause. Whole Foods can certainly be implored to do better but they’re not at the top of the pyramid of the industrial food complex. Your previous post came off rather flippant and insulting to your readership. I’ll be removing this site from my feed reader.
There is nothing whatsoever insulting about that post. It simply outlines why I won’t shop at Whole Foods. I am glad I wrote that post. It was an important issue to address. I would write it again in a heartbeat!
I would suggest that more people will stop shopping at Whole Foods in the coming months and years for the same reasons I outline. I think I am on the cusp of a trend of avoiding Whole Foods to tell you the truth.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: Can Candida Sufferers Drink Kombucha?
I don’t know, I think Adam’s right on this one. We like the info on your blog, but my wife stopped reading your stuff. She said she’d need a rude-ness filter to tolerate it, and she doesn’t even like Whole Foods. I’m not sure your quite on the cusp of the trend you think you are.
I really wish I saw this before leaving Austin! Would’ve been awesome to check out Lick Ice Cream and the Whole Foods mothership.
I dunno, if it wasn’t for Whole Foods and the farmers market they put on in their parking lot on Tuesdays I wouldn’t have known about several local farms that sell grass-fed beef and lamb and pastured eggs.
From what I can gather Whole Foods is pretty intouch with their customers. If the Whole Foods in your area doesn’t have something you like there is a good chance that it isn’t in high demand in your community.
Not so, according to this blogger. The Healthy Home Economist would have you believe your Whole Foods is only providing you with local foods for nefarious purposes. In fact, you can’t possibly even know that those foods are what it is claimed they are. They could be genetically modified cloned alien species from a government owned subsidiary of Monsanto, in underground China. Or they could just be yummy organic pastured meats from your local farm, but since it’s all a scam, who knows?
I am curious about your opinion of the physical appearance of the attendees at PaleoF(x).
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