We love our producers, suppliers and vendors and we think most of them have some pretty interesting stories behind their products too. We’re sharing some of our favorites here in an ongoing series.
Nature’s Path has blazed an organic trail since CEO Arran Stephens founded the company in 1985. Along the way, he’s repeated the same mantra: “Always leave the soil better than you found it.”
The successful company, now 400 workers strong, has remained fiercely independent and family owned, guided by Arran and his adult son and daughter, Arjan and Joyti.
Nature’s Path was an early supporter of the Non-GMO Project, has reduced packaging waste with its innovative Eco-Pacs and EnviroBoxes and has always supported small farms. Arran explains, “One of our main initiatives is to increase organic cropland and support family farms.”
From granola bars to cereals to waffles, Nature’s Path is constantly creating deliciously nourishing organic products while seeking new ways to give back to communities.
Seafood can be mystifying territory for us land dwelling creatures. Well, let’s get one thing settled right now: cooking fish at home can be very easy! One of the best things about cooking seafood is its versatility — it can be grilled, broiled, poached, baked or cooked in a pan. We’ll help you learn how to broil fish and then you can expand your horizon.
Get the health benefits of fish and the budget benefits of cooking at home by using these simple instructions. Feel free to substitute with other ingredients such as water and lemon juice or white wine for the orange juice, dried dill weed for the herbs, and capers or toasted crushed nuts or seeds for the olives.
Do you know a kid who speaks for the trees? Tell us your eco-hero’s story in our Kids for Our Planet contest. You just might win a screening of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax in your hometown theatre for 200 friends and family on March 1st, the night before the movie opens to the public. Read on to find out how to enter our Facebook contest.
Curious about Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax? Here’s how Universal Pictures describes the movie:
From the creators of Despicable Me and the imagination of Dr. Seuss comes the 3D-CG featureDr. Seuss’ The Lorax, an adaptation of the classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of a 12-year-old as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.
In hopes of spreading the eco-message of the film, we’ve partnered with Universal Pictures on our Kids for Our Planet contest as well as on pre-screening events and ticket giveaways in some of our stores. (Check here to see if your store’s included.)
This January, we are focusing on stocking your pantry for healthier meals and a healthier budget. If you haven’t entered to Win Pantry Staples for a Year, head over to that blog post now and then come right back.
When you pick up the items on our $50 Pantry Stock Up list (see below), you’ll be ready to add a few fresh ingredients, herbs and spices to be able to cook 14 of our favorite recipes. We’ll feature all of these recipes individually in these “From Our Pantry” posts throughout this month. This time we’re talking quinoa. (You can see our earlier posts on Oats, Soup, Chili and Stew and Brown Rice.
This Valentine’s Day, we’ve got you covered with world-changing chocolate, conscientious body care and beautifully responsible blooms like roses and Gerbera daisies that are grown and produced to meet our commitment to ethical trade, the environment and the highest quality, thanks to our Whole Trade® Guarantee.
But perhaps you’re looking for a little something extra outside the box of chocolates? This could be your year to start a new tradition perfectly suited for the two of you. Here are a few ideas for how to share your love with your sweetheart.
Nachos, queso, chili, pizza, quesadillas, potato skins, dips…yes, please! We’ve pulled together some of our favorite foods to enjoy on game day. If you’re trying to stick to healthier options pick the Roasted Kale Chips or Green Garbanzo Guacamole and take a look at what Mary, our healthy eating guru, suggests cooking up for the big game. Remember, no matter what you serve, everyone wins when the food is delicious.
One of my favorite local products comes out of San Diego, California from a deli called “Good On Ya.” The founder, Kristen Fillat, started Good On Ya after an 11-year stint on the United States National Field Hockey Team. As a former Olympic athlete, eating healthfully was a critical part of Kristen’s life and she wanted to share healthy, natural food with others. She opened her first deli in 2001 and eventually expanded to three locations. Kristen and her team noticed that their customers were looking for a healthful take-away breakfast option, so they started carrying a variety of nutrition bars. But after finding themselves a little nonplussed with the available options and nutritional content, they decided to create their own organic breakfast bar.
Kristen and her team created a delicious product that follows a simple but profound motto: “Every Ingredient Matters.” This means that each ingredient included in their USDA certified organic bars serves a nutritional purpose. There are no fillers. It’s a protein bar, a fiber bar, a snack bar, an energy bar, a nutrition bar. It’s food!
While preparing food can be fun, there are plenty of times when you’re in a crunch and need to get something on the table fast. For a lot of folks, that means drive-thru, take-out or dinner from a box. Unfortunately, many of these “fast” foods contain artificial additives, sweeteners, colorings, preservatives and hydrogenated fats. Instead, try turning to pre-cut fruits and fresh salsas made in-house, as well as our abundant salad bar choices, to help you get meals on the table quickly without sacrificing good health.
Leafy greens are nutritional powerhouses, so it’s a good idea to eat more of them — the darker in color the better! Low in calories and high in nutrients, leafy greens really give you bang for your buck. Add kale, collards, watercress, spinach, bok choy, Swiss chard, arugula, cabbage, romaine lettuce and more to your plate to give your new year a healthy kick start.
Eat a large green salad every day! Mix and match your favorite lettuce with greens like kale, spinach, arugula and watercress, adding a colorful mix of other vegetables for visual and flavorful variety.
Here are a handful of other simple ways to incorporate more leafy greens into your daily menu:
Serve your favorite soup, beans or chili (canned is fine) over a bowl of raw tender greens such as spinach, watercress, Napa cabbage or arugula. The warmth of the soup will wilt the greens and make them more tender.
Blend fresh or frozen greens like spinach or kale with your favorite fruit and almond milk, soy milk or yogurt for a smoothie.
Add chopped greens like bok choy, chard, kale or cabbage to a stir-fry.
Sauté onions and garlic in a bit of broth or olive oil, add kale, chard, broccoli rabe, mustard greens or collards and cook until tender.
Add leafy greens to sandwiches — go for tender greens like watercress, baby spinach or arugula or simply wilt heartier greens first.
Use large, flat-leaf greens like romaine lettuce or steamed collards as you would a tortilla to create healthier wraps.
Add sautéed greens like chard and broccoli rabe to cooked whole-grain pasta dressed with a bit of extra-virgin olive oil and a light grating of Parmigiano Reggiano.
Chop and stir greens like spinach, kale, collards and bok choy into soups, stews and pasta sauces, cooking until tender.
Rachael is part of our team dedicated to answering emails, letters and phone calls from our customers.
At Christmas, I went with my boyfriend to “meet the parents” and as we were driving along the highway he pointed to his hometown’s Whole Foods Market and said, jokingly, “There’s Whole Foods, I bet you’d love to go there since you get to see it every day!” He was trying to be funny, but I confessed that I actually love to visit our stores in other towns because each and every one I’ve visited is different. With the varied selection of prepared foods, regional specialties in our grocery departments and locally grown produce, each of our stores truly caters to the local flavor of the community.
But the community feeling is not limited to the products we sell. I hear from customers every day about how our Team Members make them feel like part of the family. One customer I spoke with was so used to the Team Members in her store knowing her personally, she was heartbroken that one of our Team Members didn’t know her name! She explained that the store was her spiritual family. While sweetly off-kilter, that call reminded me that our stores truly do make an impact in people’s lives. Read the rest of this entry »
Welcome to Whole Story, the official blog of Whole Foods Market.
Don’t know us? In a nutshell, we are the world's leading natural and organic grocer and we’re passionate about healthy food and a healthy planet. Learn more about us.
We’re lucky to have a whole bunch of smart, passionate people doing incredible things in areas like organics, supporting local growers, green practices, fair trade, micro-lending and all kinds of food related stuff. We’ll use this blog to share some of the cool things going on around here.
Of course, what makes this blog really exciting is YOU — so join the conversation!
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This January, we are focusing on stocking your pantry for healthier meals and a healthier budget. If you haven’t entered to 
One of my favorite local products comes out of San Diego, California from a deli called “Good On Ya.” The founder, Kristen Fillat, started 
Leafy greens are nutritional powerhouses, so it’s a good idea to eat more of them — the darker in color the better! Low in calories and high in nutrients, leafy greens really give you bang for your buck. Add kale, collards, watercress, spinach, bok choy, Swiss chard, arugula, cabbage, romaine lettuce and more to your plate to give your new year a healthy kick start.
At Christmas, I went with my boyfriend to “meet the parents” and as we were driving along the highway he pointed to his hometown’s Whole Foods Market and said, jokingly, “There’s Whole Foods, I bet you’d love to go there since you get to see it every day!” He was trying to be funny, but I confessed that I actually love to visit our stores in other towns because each and every one I’ve visited is different. With the varied selection of prepared foods, regional specialties in our grocery departments and locally grown produce, each of our stores truly caters to the local flavor of the community.
