For the past few weeks, we’ve been cleaning at my store. Not just the normal cleaning that we do every day, the clutter cleansing, head clearing, let-the-sunshine-in kind of cathartic purging that can only be known as spring cleaning. Where once stood stacks of firewood, now rises racks of seeds — geraniums, marigolds, morning glories. Displays of hot cocoa mix and marshmallows have come down, and end caps (the displays that you see on the ends of our grocery aisles) highlighting chicken broth and spice for soups have been moved back to their normal places on the shelves. All to make room for the first harbingers of spring — the celebrations of Passover and Easter.

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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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Christian P. is our randomly selected winner of the 5-title Putumayo CD collection. Thanks everyone for your entries!

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.

Around the first of March I start thinking about my spring vegetable garden. This is the time when I feel the closest connection to the growers throughout the U.S. as we emerge from another winter (in some places) and contemplate the start of a new growing season. There are lots of things to think about: Are we past our final frost? (I think so but my neighbors don’t agree.) Should I plant further apart in anticipation of a wetter spring? In my own modest way many of the decisions I make mirror those of far larger growers. Among the most important of these decisions is: Should I grow from seed or should I grow from starter plants?

Lettuce just emerging from seed – Carmel Valley California

For large-scale growers the choice between seed and starter plants begins with economics. The expense associated with bringing a seed to a seedling plant stage can be staggering. Germination time, plant type, climate, geography and expected yield per acre are all factors that influence the decision. Expected return is also an important factor. Fruits and vegetables with a low per pound value (like melons and pumpkins) are more likely to come from direct seed planting.

Sweet peas from last year’s seed crop

My choices are driven less by logic and more by habit. I tend to start from seed only those items for which I harvest seeds from the prior season. These are pumpkins and hard squashes, sunflowers and sweet peas. It is important to note that if you plant from harvested seeds you will often get a variation that differs from the variety of the parent plant. This is caused by cross-pollination and the effects will vary depending on how many varieties you (or your neighbors) grow. I happen to love this effect – the variations that come out of my “mystery garden” of mixed pumpkin seeds, for example, are often unexpected. It’s also interesting to see how similar (but different) successive generations of the same plant are.

Strawberry starts – 6-pack and 4″ Alpine, Variegated and Seascape varieties

Everywhere the farmers’ markets, grocery stores and nurseries are eagerly anticipating people like me. First a trickle but soon a flood of colorful seed packets and young, delicate starter plants in 6-pack, 2″ and 4″ pots will compete for the roughly 168 cubic feet of garden space I’ve carved out of my backyard. I am a seed and plant salesperson’s dream. I live in an area where you can grow almost anything; I know just enough about plants and gardening to be dangerous; and I cannot walk by a display without buying something.

That said, here are some basic tips I’ve learned about seed versus starters plant gardening:

• Avoid seeds with long germination times. As a rule, the longer it takes a seed to germinate, the more likely it is to be affected by adverse weather conditions. Herbs like thyme, rosemary and sage are good examples of long germination seeds and you may get better results going with plant starts. In contrast, lettuce seeds germinate quickly and are very successfully grown from seed. All seed packets will tell you how long the seed takes to germinate.
• Length of season – this will vary depending on where you live (and on how good you are at planting on time). If you live in the southern states, for example, where the spring growing season is short you might consider a starter plant over seed to give your garden a head start. Also, if you are like me and tend to be late getting your garden planted, starters will cut down on the time it takes a plant to mature.
• Garden size – my garden in my old yard was 1/5 the size of the one I have today. Seed planting has a higher rate of plant failure than a garden planted from starters. If your garden area is small and you want to be exacting about what grows and where, starter plants are a better option.

Aidan with my best ever sunflower- 2004 crop (I still have the seeds from progressive generations)

You can also get the best of both worlds by making your own starters from seed – I save all my containers from prior purchases to use for starting plants I know I want a lot of (like sunflowers). Results will vary, of course, from place to place so I encourage experimentation – and do please share what you have found. On the subject of gardening in particular, I’m always open to new ideas.

Our month-long celebration of all things Parmigiano Reggiano ends in a very big way and you’re invited! This Saturday, February 27^th, at exactly 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) cheesemongers in our stores across the U.S., Canada and the U.K. will simultaneously crack into wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano.

You could say we’re trying to outdo ourselves. In 2008, with nearly 300 wheels opened at 176 Whole Foods Market stores, we set a Guinness World Record for “Most Parmigiano Reggiano Wheels Cracked Simultaneously.” Stop by your local Whole Foods Market on Saturday to witness our attempt to break that record.

There is a real art to cracking into an 85-pound wheel of the “king of cheese.” It requires an expert hand and usually takes about half an hour using the official 5-piece knife set from Italy’s Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano. This traditional cracking method perfectly reveals Parmigiano Reggiano’s delectably crunchy crystalline internal structure. In this video, Cathy Strange, our Global Cheese Buyer explains the process as Team Member Forrest Allen demonstrates.

Our stores are buzzing with anticipation for the big event. There will be Parmigiano Reggiano samples, recipe demonstrations, food pairings and wine and beer tastings (where allowed). Many of our stores will feature in-store “crack offs” with their cheesemongers competing against each other on cracking time and ability. Be sure to check your local store calendar to find out what time the celebration begins.

As a special salute to this amazing cheese, the Specialty Team in our West Vancouver, British Columbia store carved an amazing replica of the Roman Coliseum out of a wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano. If you’re in the area, check it out.

We also have a feeling you’ll be seeing a lot of Team Members in our Specialty Departments sporting mustaches à la Paolo Borghi, one of our Italian Parmigiano Reggiano producers.

Whether you make the cracking event or not, visit our Behind the Rind page for more information about this wonderful cheese, along with recipes, pairing suggestions and much more. Let’s get cracking!

What a thrill to see that so many of you share our passion for perfectly aged Parmigiano Reggiano!  You can bet that it was not an easy task to narrow down the six finalists from the more than 1,000 mouth-watering recipes entered in our contest.

We hope you’ll agree that our top picks showcase the versatility of Parmigiano Reggiano and how creative you can be with this amazing cheese. Without further ado…congratulations to our winners:

Grand Prize:  Parmigiano Reggiano Crisps with Chocolate and Sea Salt

B. Estabrook of Rhinelander, WI

Grated Parmigiano Reggiano and chopped almonds are combined and baked to make round crisps, then dipped in melted chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt for an incredible sweet-savory combo made from just five ingredients. This innovative recipe can be served as an appetizer or dessert with a glass of red wine or maybe even prosecco. Either way, your guests will be impressed! And we bet you can’t eat just one.

First Place: Savory Parmigiano Reggiano Loaf with Pancetta, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Basil

J. Baron of Livonia, NY.

Second Place: Parmigiano Reggiano Ramekin Cheese Puffs

C. Kumpe of El Dorado, CA.

Third Place: Savory Cannoli con Parmigiano Reggiano

M. Anderson of Eagle, ID.

Fourth Place: Parmigiano Reggiano Blondies

T. Traynor of Winston-Salem, NC.

Fifth Place: Parmigiano Reggiano Grits with Corn and Vidalia Onion

K. Keegan of Memphis, TN.

Scroll through the other 1,000+ recipes and you’ll be amazed at all of the wonderful ways to eat Parmigiano Reggiano.

Many thanks go to our panel of judges for taking time out of their busy schedules to sample the top Parmigiano Reggiano dishes and make the tough decisions. Some people have all the luck!

Company-wide Wheel Cracking Event–February 27th, 3 p.m. EST

You can be just as lucky. On February 27th we’ll cap off our month-long celebration of the “King of Cheese” with a company-wide Parmigiano Reggiano wheel cracking event. At exactly 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) cheesemongers in all of our stores will crack open wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano at the same time . We’re hoping to outdo our 2008 record of 300 Parmigiano Reggiano wheels opened simultaneously. Be there to witness the event and try Parmigiano Reggiano samples, recipe demonstrations, food pairings, wine tastings (where allowed) and more.

In the meantime, go Behind the Rind and get to know more about the magnificent Parmigiano Reggiano with videos, recipes, cheese plate ideas and more.

If there is one thing I love about winter, it’s snow, and this year there has been no shortage of the white stuff in the northeast. But it might surprise you to know one of the reasons why I love snow. It’s not because I’m a skier, or a champion snowman builder, or an ice fisherman. Nope, it’s because I like to bag groceries, and there is no more interesting time to do some bagging than right before a snow storm.

Think about it: when the possibility of being stuck in your house arises, how do you prepare? You run to the grocery store and fill up a few bags with your snow day essentials! Here at Whole Foods Market, we prepare for a snow storm by making sure we have everything you need, and by calling in extra help to get everyone in and out as quickly as possible! This winter we’ve had a few storms, which always makes for exciting and busy days. Here’s an example of the types of bags I see on the days before a big snow fall:

The Baby Bag: tons of baby food, milk and diapers, diapers, diapers!

The Single Guy Bag: toilet paper, frozen pizza and chocolate chip cookies.

The Family Bag: Water, macaroni and cheese, cans of soup, multi-vitamins, chocolate milk, cupcakes and stew meat.

The Unexplainable Bag: 20 heads of broccoli.

Personally, my own bag contains ice cream, pasta sauce, parmesan cheese, a loaf of bread and wine (where available). Read the rest of this entry »

Dan is the founder and president of Putumayo World Music. Their newest release Rhythm and Blues is available in Whole Foods Market stores today.

As a kid growing up in the 1960’s, rhythm and blues was the music that I loved the most. Groups like the Four Tops and the Supremes were the soundtrack of my high school years. I’ll never forget a magical night at the Apollo Theater with one of my favorite groups, the Spinners. The melodic hooks, harmonies and upbeat vibe helped set the stage for my eventual career in world music, which shares many of the same characteristics.

Rhythm and blues is part of America’s musical DNA and nowhere more so than my adopted home, New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz and rhythm and blues. Putumayo’s newest release Rhythm and Blues captures what I like best about the music and features New Orleans favorites like Snooks Eaglin (who passed away last year), Irma Thomas and the under-appreciated Rocky Charles.

It also includes some rising stars like Sharon Jones (who had the unforgettable opening song, This Land is Your Land, on the George Clooney film Up in the Air) and UK star James Hunter who was discovered by Van Morrison. And, of course, there are some surprises like Panamanian soul singer, Kafir, who sings on this track with the Quantic Soul Orchestra, the brainchild of British musician, Will Holland.

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

Podcast: Download

I hope this sample inspires you to hear more classic rhythm and blues performed by first generation legends and rising stars of today’s retro R&B revival.

With a documented history dating back almost 1,000 years, only cheese made in one area of Northern Italy – the rolling hills and green pastures that comprise Reggio Emilia, Parma, Modena and portions of Bologna and Mantua – can bear the Parmigiano Reggiano name. There the cheese is handcrafted in small batches to meet the high quality standards of Italy’s Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano, who have been preserving the tradition and integrity of the cheese for centuries. Read the rest of this entry »