Whole Foods Market grocery and meat purchasing teams have been hard at work making our stores a Passover destination. We know that many of our customers are looking for kosher for Passover products that meet our strict quality standards for packaged foods that are free of artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, sweeteners and hydrogenated fats. We also know you are looking for kosher poultry that weren’t given antibiotics in their feed and were raised with plenty of room to roam around. Meeting all of these requirements can be quite a challenge, but we persevered and made it happen for you!

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Putumayo Kids just released what’s destined to be your kid’s new favorite: Jazz Playground. From bebop and swing to Latin and African jazz, this multicultural CD celebrates the vibrant diversity and global influence of jazz and will get the whole family grooving. (Read on for a chance to win some Putumayo CDs.)

I’ve loved their Playground series since my daughter was young and would play a CD over and over and over again. We quickly realized that Putumayo CDs pleased her as well as us! It turns out that Dan Storper, founder of Putumayo, had that exact plan in mind:

With our children’s series, my professional goals and responsibilities as a father of a 4-year-old son seem to merge. I’m always looking for songs that William will love and, despite playing scores of time, won’t drive my wife and me crazy. Jazz Playground is filled with lots of loveable, jazzy songs that are great fun for kids but which parents not only can bear but may even press the replay button for themselves. One of the songs, Cumbamba, by Cuban-American, Jose Conde, was recorded especially for this CD after I’d heard a scratchy, early version that I thought would sound nice if re-recorded. The cross-cultural collaborations and tasteful versions of children’s favorites like Sing a Song of Sixpence, Mary Had a Little Lamb and the Spiderman theme song make this a one of kind musical journey that the whole family can appreciate.

Want a taste? Try this track from Oran Etkin for Little Lamb Jam.

Note: you can simply listen online using the player below, or you can “right click” to download the mp3 file.

Podcast: Download

Want more? Pick up Jazz Playground, now available in our stores. Bebop, swing and all that jazz: cool tunes for global kids!

Want to win? By March 16th, enter a comment letting us know what CD you or your kids listen to incessantly, and we’ll choose a random winner to receive a 5-title Putumayo package – a little something for everyone.

Every month, we are pleased to add many new products to our shelves that have passed the testing and tasting and met our strict Quality Standards. And each month, we choose a dozen or so to call to your attention. Look for the “what’s new” poster and shelf signs for new products — or new varieties of old favorites — that we think you’ll especially enjoy.

Whole Foods Market Organic Castile Soaps

• Check it out — these all-purpose liquid soaps are organic!
• Scented with pure essential oils, they provide a rich, luxurious lather perfect for skin, hair, body, kitchen and household
• Try all three scents: Lavender, Almond and Peppermint

Whole Foods Market L-Theanine

• Honor your body and mind with this new dietary supplement
• It supports non-drowsy mental and physical relaxation
• 100 mg vegetarian capsules

Whole Foods Market NAC

• Support your body and mind with this new dietary supplement
• It provides important everyday antioxidants
• 500 mg easy-to-swallow-capsules

VivAgave Organic Blue Agave Inulin

• This versatile, soluble-fiber prebiotic supports “good” intestinal bacteria
• Use it as a low-glycemic addition to cereal, juices, smoothies or anywhere you may need more fiber
• Look for the Original and Organic Vanilla varieties in the Agave syrup section

Wallaby Organic European Style Sour Cream

• Try Wallaby’s new, ultra-rich sour cream
• Give your favorite dish a decadent, creamy touch
• It’s made with cultured organic cream and no additives

Wallaby Organic Yogurts

• Deliciously smooth Australian-style yogurt made in the Napa Valley
• Try all three new 6 oz. varieties: Lowfat Plain, Lowfat Vanilla Bean and Caramel Apple Down Under

Nature’s Path Organic Granola Bars

• Introducing a delicious assortment of granola bar flavors, from salty to sweet and everything in between
• New, reduced packaging means environmental savings
• Try all eight varieties: Pumpkin-n-Spice, Sunny Hemp, Berry Strawberry, Lotta’ Apricotta, Peanut Buddy, Peanut Choco, Chococonut and Mmmaple Pecan

Nature’s Path Gluten-Free Organic Cereals

• Enjoy the crunchy goodness of gluten-free cereal made from organic corn, rice, flax, quinoa, buckwheat and amaranth
• They’re packed with fiber and whole grains
• Try both the Crunchy Vanilla and Crunchy Maple Sunrise varieties

Products may only be available in some stores and only while supplies last.

Here’s a confession: My brother ate nothing but peanut butter (on bread) for an entire year. He was a little kid and my mom obviously wasn’t taking control of his diet! He wanted peanut butter and she let him have it. Of course there are all kinds of things wrong with that and, luckily, he’s outgrown the obsession. He still loves peanut butter and (in moderation) there’s everything right about that!

So, what would you do with a case of peanut butter? Read on for a chance to win one! It doesn’t matter how you like it-smooth, crunchy, unsweetened or no salt added-we’ve got you covered with our 365 Everyday Value® Organic Peanut Butter at $3.49 for 18oz. And guess what? Our March/April issue of The Whole Deal has a $1.00 off coupon. Print the online coupon or pick up the value guide with coupons in our stores. Now that’s a tasty deal. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 is an exciting year for many reasons. It’s the beginning of a new decade, the end of 2009 (thank goodness!) and it is the year Whole Foods Market celebrates our 30th birthday! In September of 1980, John Mackey and Renee Lawson opened Whole Foods Market on Lamar Street in Austin, Texas with a staff of 19.

We asked some of our team members who have been with us from the beginning, or practically the beginning, to share their favorite stories about those early days. Read the rest of this entry »

While the New Year provides a framework for making life changes, any time is a good time to strive for positive growth. What’s nice is that simple changes can have big impacts. Here are some ideas that don’t ask a lot of you but really deliver.

And speaking of asking just a little of you, we’re asking you to take a simple action and declare your food-related mantra on our Facebook This is My Year to… app. By voting (daily through January), your support could earn the Non-GMO Project, The Organic Center’s Mission Organic 2010 or Growing Power an extra $10,000 donation above the $10k we are already donating to each. This is a simple thing to do that will make a huge impact!

Reduce Packaging to Reduce Cost – One of the easiest ways to save money, yet still enjoy high-quality, additive-free foods is to shop the bulk bins. You can select just as much or as little as you need and you’re paying for less packaging and its associated manufacturing and transportation costs. Read the rest of this entry »

FORTUNE magazine just ranked Whole Foods Market No. 18 on its 2010 list of the “100 Best Companies to Work For.” Thanks to our awesome Team Members (more than 50,000 now) we’ve made the list consecutively for 13 years and are one of only 13 companies to be named as an “All Star” for making the list every year since the list’s inception.

FORTUNE cited last year’s company store growth resulting in additional job creation, salary cap limits for top earners, and robust health care plan among the key factors considered for our climb to the 18th spot after ranking No. 22 in 2009. We also ranked among the top 13 most diverse of the 100 companies listed, with 45 percent of the workforce being minorities and 44 percent being women. Read the rest of this entry »

The Green Dilemma: You’ve got company coming and you don’t have enough dishes to serve the crowd (not to mention the no-fun task of washing up afterwards). What’s the green host to do? Wow your guests with dinnerware made from fallen leaves by VerTerra. I saw these first used at a huge meeting at Whole Foods Market headquarters. I simply couldn’t believe these beautiful bowls and plates were made from fallen leaves, a “waste product,” and were fully compostable. I had a hard time putting them in the compost bin! Read the rest of this entry »

We’re halfway through January. Have you set some aspirations for yourself yet? We know many of our customers ask questions about where their food comes from. Here are some ideas on how you can be more conscious about your food choices.

Tune in throughout the month of January for more ideas and don’t forget to declare your food-related mantra on our Facebook This is My Year to… app. By voting (daily through January), your support could earn the Non-GMO Project, The Organic Center’s Mission Organic 2010 or Growing Power an extra $10,000 donation above the $10k we are already donating to each.

Go Local - You’ll enjoy fresh picks, foster a connection with your food and help support the people who produce it. Our minimum standard for the local label on produce is that which has traveled seven or fewer hours from the farm to our facility. Read the rest of this entry »

Are you ready for some more ideas on how you can upgrade your life in 2010? At Whole Foods Market we’re welcoming the new year with the belief that everyone should be able to afford healthy natural and organic foods, supplements and body care. So we’re here for you with our 365 Everyday Value line, The Whole Deal value guide, sales and competitive pricing on items produced to the strictest standards. You can have your values and eat them, too!

Here are some of our favorite value-focused tips. Tune in throughout the month of January for more ideas and don’t forget to declare your food-related mantra on our Facebook This is My Year to… app. By voting (daily through January), your support could earn the Non-GMO Project, The Organic Center’s Mission Organic 2010 or Growing Power an extra $10,000 donation above the $10k we are already donating to each. Cool! Read the rest of this entry »