One of the great annual events of spring is the beginning of the domestic berry season. The true starting point has blurred because of global production, early producing varieties and weather protection technology (like hoop houses). Mother Nature also plays a huge role — too much rain slows production down; too much sun brings all the fruit on at once; a late freeze burns off the blossoms or even kills the plant, which can put whole growing areas out of business for a season.
Here at the Whole Foods Market produce buying office in Watsonville, California, we are surrounded by miles and miles of strawberry, raspberry and blackberry fields — Watsonville is the last of three major growing areas for berry production to come online in California. But the large and small berry producers here make up only part of a dynamic and ever-changing industry that spans the U.S., springing up (pun intended) everywhere and sometimes in some very unusual places. Read the rest of this entry »
Here’s your chance to discover the top easy-to-adopt lifestyle recommendations for dealing with and finding relief from allergies. Includes research-based natural approaches that work, as well as personal accounts of what’s been helpful over the years.
I have a confession: I love butter. In fact, I would say it’s on my favorite foods list, right up there with nuts and chocolate. But I also love extra virgin olive oil and avocados, and this amazing toasted walnut oil. Fat is satisfying, it makes food taste better and keeps us fuller longer, stabilizing blood sugar. It is soothing and nourishing, and when consumed in moderation, is a necessary component of our daily diet.
To begin, let’s have a quick lesson in “Fats 101″:
Fat is a macronutrient, just like protein and carbohydrate and something our bodies need. Fats are precursors to hormones, they cushion our internal organs, they regulate our temperature, and they carry fat-soluble nutrients through our bodies. As part of a balanced diet, we need a variety of natural fats.
My team has the exciting responsibility of overseeing our national music program – you know, the CDs in our stores. We launched the “Artists Discovery Series” to celebrate exceptional emerging artists who share a passion for the causes and social initiatives that we support as well. We are partnering with Inspire, a leading music and branding firm, to find great artists from around the world. (You can reach Inspire at Inspire@InspireEntertainment.com.)
Just prior to our new store in Paramus, New Jersey opening its doors, 1,300 interested customers took a sneak peak at what this new Whole Foods Market would be offering. In addition to being introduced to the store’s extensive wine selection, Shish and Panini station, and a wide variety of our distinct and valued vendors, they were also given a quick overview of what this store was doing to reduce its environmental footprint. Certainly a quick two minute presentation on only a couple of the store’s green items didn’t do the region’s newest and greenest store justice. Let’s fix that right now! Here are just a few of the eco-friendly items that those 1,300 customers – and the thousands more that came after them – did not see and hear about. Read the rest of this entry »
The New York Times has spent quite a bit of ink lately on how the new administration may affect the way we eat in the U.S. Personally, I find this all very interesting and I wonder what others are thinking about it. With Michael Pollan and Mark Bittman on staff, it seems the NY Times is covering this issue more than others, but I’d love links to other articles that you are seeing out there. Here’s what I’ve read recently:
Back in October before the election, Michael Pollan wrote an open letter to whoever would be the next President called Farmer in Chief and he detailed what he’d like to see changed about food policy in our country.
One of my favorite aspects of running Whole Foods Market’s Local Producer Loan Program is getting to learn about interesting new products. Gluten-free, organic, vegan granola? Check. Wine sorbet? Check. Dairy-free coconut milk ice cream? Check!
One of our most recent loan recipients definitely fits in the “unique product” category: Coracao Confections. Daniel Korson and Matthew Rogers make incredible chocolate… raw chocolate! These two young chefs have been perfecting their chocolate-making skills for several years, and they have managed to turn raw cacao into smooth, yummy vegan chocolates in flavors like Coconut Dream, Caramel Cup, and Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cup.
Check out the video to see Matt making some Coracao Confections chocolates and let us know what you think!
Oh yeah, this ongoing Best Meal of the Week post is starting to rock. You posted some great recipe ideas on the last post and my meal planning has gotten a lot easier since we started this…thanks! (I assume that many of you are finding it helpful too!) Remember, “best” is highly subjective: healthy, super quick, inexpensive, fabulously delicious – or a combination of all that and more. Here are a few featured Best Meal ideas. Post yours in the comments below.
From Kate, a team member:
Sunday was the most gorgeous day imaginable here in Austin. I spent all day gardening and before I knew it, 7 p.m. had arrived and I didn’t have much of a dinner plan. Fortunately, I had two great staples in my pantry: canned garbanzo beans and tuna. With these ingredients, I knew I could figure out something tasty and quick when paired with a few other ingredients from the fridge.
Did you know that growing cotton uses more pesticides than any other cash crop? Most parents understand the importance of organic food for babies, yet there are also compelling reasons to consider organic cotton bedding and clothing. Get smart facts and more from Lynda Fassa, author, expert on raising kids naturally and founder of Green Babies organic clothing.
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.
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My team has the exciting responsibility of overseeing our national music program – you know, the CDs in our stores. We launched the “Artists Discovery Series” to celebrate exceptional emerging artists who share a passion for the causes and social initiatives that we support as well. We are partnering with Inspire, a leading music and branding firm, to find great artists from around the world. (You can reach Inspire at 
Sunday was the most gorgeous day imaginable here in Austin. I spent all day gardening and before I knew it, 7 p.m. had arrived and I didn’t have much of a dinner plan. Fortunately, I had two great staples in my pantry: canned garbanzo beans and tuna. With these ingredients, I knew I could figure out something tasty and quick when paired with a few other ingredients from the fridge.
