For over 35 years, Severino Pasta Company in Westmont, New Jersey, has been the place to find authentic, richly flavored pasta handmade with only the finest ingredients. Joseph and Anna Maria Severino learned the art of pasta making from Umberto Casoli, an artisanal pasta maker in Rome, Italy. In 1971, they returned to America with recipes in hand and introduced their uniquely handcrafted pasta products made from 100% Semolina flour, which are unsurpassed in texture, color and quality.

Pasta from local vendor Severino Pasta Company is currently available in our stores in the MidAtlantic and Northeast regions. We have great local offerings in all of our stores around the country. Ask a team member in your stores about what’s local in your neck of the woods.

Whether enjoying some sun on the beach, in the garden or up in the mountains, it’s essential to protect our skin before and after exposure. Discover the specific ingredients and highest-quality products to choose for summer skin care. Rebecca Hamilton is Director of Product Development for the W.S. Badger Company.

Podcast: Download

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THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED AND WE’LL BE ANNOUNCING A WINNER SOON. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE COMMENTS!

When summer gives you lemons, we say make one of summer’s best coolers: lemonade! When the heat is on and the kids are looking for something to do this summer, a lemonade stand may be just the answer for fun and a sure-fire thirst-quenching activity. Lemonade stands are synonymous with summer and can teach kids a few business skills, get them outdoors and even help them support a good cause by donating the proceeds.

Ready for business? Perfect for the young entrepreneur in us all, this gift basket contains everything you need to serve up lemonade with a smile. Enter your comment by June 14th telling us how you make your favorite summer beverage for a chance to win our Summer’s Best Lemonade Stand Gift Basket. One winner will be randomly selected to receive the Summer’s Best Lemonade Stand Gift Basket, a $100 value, plus a $50 gift card so you can pick up fresh lemons and other special ingredients to make your stand the best.

Here’s what you’ll find in the basket:

• 2 BPA-free Reusable Cups with Straw
• Good Grips Large Wooden Slotted Spoon
• Good Grips Large Wooden Spoon
• 365 Everyday Value Organic Cane Sugar
• 365 Everyday Value Clear Plastic Cups
• Good Grips Citrus Juicer
• Simply Organic Cocoa Brownie Mix
• Dr. Oetker Organic Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
• Santa Cruz Organic Lemonade
• Santa Cruz Organic Cherry Lemonade

So tell us about your favorite summer beverage in the comments below by June 14th for a chance to win a lemonade stand gift basket. Enjoy Summer’s Best!

THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED AND WE’LL BE ANNOUNCING A WINNER SOON. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE COMMENTS!

Beans, beans the musical fruit, the more you eat, the more you…get the benefit of precious plant protein and favorable fiber. With so many varieties right here at home, can you believe that around the world there are still more choices? This reminds me of my year in Mumbai, India where I learned to love a variety of beans not so common to my native home. One in particular stands out in my mind: the mung bean.

When I was child in Louisiana, I was certain my Dad taught me everything I needed to know about beans, like how to sing the song, what they were called, what dishes you ate them in, and the noisy effect they had on your belly. I knew limas were in lots of dishes, split peas came in soup with a ham hock, and pintos came in hot-n-spicy Texas chili. Moving to California, then to Hawaii and later to Texas matured me quickly. Soon I was able to grasp the concept of lentils, black beans, navy beans, garbanzo beans and, of course, the versatile soybean, but it was my year in India that opened my palate to a whole new level of bean cuisine. That’s where I learned to love the small, oval-shaped “Mighty Mung” bean.

Mung beans can be purchased whole or split and hulled. They are delicate and slightly sweet in flavor and range in color from green to yellow to black. I am especially fond of the split, hulled variety, which I call the “mellow-yellow-mung.” In Indian cuisine, it is known as moong dhal. Traditionally cooked with spices and herbs, ghee and vegetables, a dish of moong dhal creates a delicious, nourishing meal that, as beans go, is relatively easy to digest. A complete meal is often moong dhal paired with Basmati rice, vegetables and Indian roti (bread).

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Traveling on vacation this summer? We want to go with you! Or maybe just find us when you get there. Many of our stores are just a hop, skip or a subway/tube/bus stop from many of your favorite summer destinations. Over the summer, we’ll be featuring stores near destinations around the U.S., U.K. and Canada that are conveniently located near vacation destinations like historical landmarks, beaches, artsy and adventurous escapades, festivals and more!

8 out of 10* Whole Foods Market team members agree that when planning a vacation, preparations usually include a search for the closest Whole Foods Market. Does that make us grocery store nerds? Yep. But more importantly, traveling means that we can check out stores we’ve never seen before and easily find the high quality products we love while we’re away from home.

*Data based on an informal poll of team members in Austin, Texas. And, um, we asked the people who would support our point. It was just kind a fun way to open the blog post, you know? Don’t put any stock in it.

If you’re traveling to London this summer – here are a few of our stores that are just around the corner from some must-see destinations.

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One of our favorite summer pastimes is backyard grilling! Ripe summer produce, juicy burgers, delicious kabobs, fresh seafood and hearty steaks all stack up as summer favorites with a little fire, some seasonings and an attentive grill master. Look no further than Whole Foods Market for the freshest and seasonally best foods at peak perfection and for strategies to help you make the most of the season both indoors and out.

Check out these summer-friendly tips to backyard grilling:

Build A Better Burger

• Better beef makes a better burger. Ours is ground fresh in-house and seasoned with only natural ingredients.
• Go beyond beef and try a burger made with turkey, lamb, pork or seafood.
• Try healthier whole-grain buns with no artificial preservatives.
• Bring the flavor up a notch with a great melting cheese, such as aged Grafton classic reserve Cheddar, Havarti with dill or a Brie-style cheese.
• Dress it up with condiments – we only sell those that meet our Quality Standards for no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.

Top Tips for the Grill Master

1. Clean your grill thoroughly with a grill brush before each use.
2. Oil the rack prior to heating by soaking a clean rag with high-heat oil and wiping grates.
3. Preheat a gas grill for 15 minutes; allow a charcoal grill to burn for 30 minutes before cooking.
4. Do your prep work ahead of time, then set up a work station near the grill to make your ingredients easily accessible.
5. Have a clean sheet tray or platter ready for resting cooked items as you remove them from the grill.

Light your Eco-Friendly Fire

At Whole Foods Market, our hardwood charcoal made from oak, maple and hickory wood trimmings is easy to light, and burns hotter and cleaner than conventional varieties. Use a chimney starter as an alternative to lighter fuel.

Summer Sizzle: Meat & Poultry

Our beef, chicken and pork are now evaluated according to the Global Animal Partnership 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rating. (To learn more, download our brochure.) And, as always, all of our meat and poultry comes from animals that meet our standards for no antibiotics, ever. Let our butchers help make summer easier with cooking suggestions, custom cuts, marinating and seasoning.

The Best Catch for Your Grill

You can always count on fresh seafood at Whole Foods Market that has been raised or caught using environmentally responsible practices. We uphold the highest standards in the industry! Wild-caught seafood is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or utilizes the rating system of the Monterey Bay Aquarium or Blue Ocean Institute.

Farm-raised seafood meets our strict Aquaculture Standards, which prohibit antibiotics and added hormones, while supporting healthy ecosystems. What a catch for your grill!

In a Hurry? Just Add Heat!

Choose from our selection of grill-ready foods in the meat and seafood departments. All of them are freshly prepared with marinades and seasonings that meet our strict Quality Standards. All you add is the grill!

Some grill-friendly choices include:

• Chicken, pork, beef, lamb and seafood kabobs
• Several varieties of pre-seasoned ground beef patties
• House-made fresh sausages
• Salmon burgers and crab cakes

For more summer solutions to backyard grilling, we’ve prepared our Guide to Grilling as a great online resource filled with grilling techniques and suggestions.

Happy grilling!

Today, Friday, May 27th – for one day only – all U.S. Whole Foods Market stores will have marinated and plain chicken kabobs on sale for $3.99/pound (limit 10 per customer). Made in-house with fresh veggies and chicken, these aren’t just any kabobs. With our chicken, you get great-tasting meat from animals raised with care:

• No antibiotics, ever.
• No animal byproducts in feed.
• 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rated to certify our producers’ animal welfare practices.

Give these great kabobs a try!

Do you love a classic burger? Or would you rather try something with a twist? We’ve got you covered either way, with plenty of delicious offerings in our stores and recipe collection. Our butchers grind meat fresh daily, right in our stores. So whether you make your burgers from scratch or pick up chef-prepared patties from our meat counter, you’re well on your way to savoring summer’s best burgers. Just choose your burger, add your favorite condiments and sides, and get ready to enjoy.

Here are some of our favorite burger recipes:

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THE CONTEST HAS CLOSED AND WE’LL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER SOON. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS!

Special thanks to Joel Dinerstein, Tulane University American studies professor and jazz author, for assisting Dan Storper, Founder and CEO of Putumayo, on this post.

Putumayo’s new CD release, Jazz, which is now available in most Whole Foods Market stores, features legends such as Nina Simone, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker, Oscar Peterson, Cannonball Adderley and many others performing beloved American standards. (Read on for a chance to win a 4-CD jazz collection from Putumayo.)

The late 1950s was a golden age for jazz and three-quarters of this collection was recorded in that period. Through recent sound engineering breakthroughs, most tracks have been significantly re-mastered, providing a sound quality only available in the last few years. The CD also features rare, full-page archival photos of each artist performing and extensive liner notes by Joel Dinerstein.

As Professor Dinerstein explains, “Jazz is an art form of ensemble individuality. First, a jazz artist has to develop a unique, identifiable voice — a combination of tone, style and phrasing that creates an instantly recognizable sound. Just as no one would mistake Billie Holiday’s vocal phrasing for Anita O’Day’s, Oscar Peterson’s piano style is easily distinguishable from Hampton Hawes’, as is Chet Baker’s trumpet playing from Louis Armstrong’s. A great jazz vocalist inhabits a song as if it were a one-act play told by a first-person narrator as the musical scenery constantly, subtly shifts to mirror the twists and turns of the singer’s emotional dynamics.

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Nothing says summer like food on a stick. Well, maybe a few things do. But food on a stick is always fun with little to no cleanup required and, best of all, you can eat it with your hands. So why not kick off the summer cookout season with a platter of chicken kabobs this weekend? Kabobs are fast to grill and fun and delicious to eat. Plus with our various marinades, there’s a kabob for everyone at your table – even the kids!

On Friday, May 27 – for one day only – all U.S. Whole Foods Market stores will have marinated and plain chicken kabobs on sale for $3.99/pound (limit 10 per customer). Made in-house with fresh veggies and chicken, these aren’t just any kabobs. With our chicken, you get great-tasting meat from animals raised with care:

• No antibiotics, ever.
• No animal byproducts in feed.
• 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rated to certify our producers’ animal welfare practices.

If you’re feeling inspired and want to explore the versatility of kabobs, here are a few of my favorite recipes.

Honey Mustard Chicken and Veggie Kabobs

Curried Chicken Kabobs with Coconut Rice

Peach and Chicken Kabobs

While you’re at the meat counter, ask our butchers for grilling tips. They love to share their favorites. You can also check out our online tips for grilling poultry.

And, if you’re interested in marinades and rubs, check out more ways to make grilling special.

What are some of your must-have ingredients for building kabobs? We’d love to hear them!