[tkln]

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

I wonder whether the fact that the small farmer's price is impacted because he handles far less than the large commercial operations, and thus does not get the bulk rate on feed and such?

From my understanding, this is definitely part of it. I've done some reading on this and seems like the small farmers don't qualify for most of the subsidizing and grants that the large scale commercial factories do (and to me, most of those large farms are factories). It's a shame that the little guy, who usually grows the healthiest and best tasting vegetables, dairy and meat, gets squeezed out on all ends. The government doesn't help them out and the consumer can't afford to purchase their products.

I don't have a lot of extra money to toss around but I try my hardest to buy locally grown food, including meat. I'll pay extra for that grass fed beef, but $3.50 for two zucchinis is pushing it.

[nunoco]

Originally Posted by momnh

I've lived in MA around Whole Foods before and can say their prices are not better than Wealthy Living, so it doesn't add anything that way. (but sale prices in both stores are very good!). What it WILL add though is very good jobs. They treat their associates as professionals and there are several good career tracks within their stores. They pay well too. It's not a typical $8/hr cashier job.

For all the lefties out there (and I mean that in a good way), Whole Foods isn't always everything you think it is. Pretty anti-labor, and trying to snuff health-insurance reform, here:
Daily Kos: State of the Nation
Just FYI.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by nunoco

For all the lefties out there (and I mean that in a good way), Whole Foods isn't always everything you think it is. Pretty anti-labor, and trying to snuff health-insurance reform, here:
Daily Kos: State of the Nation
Just FYI.

This lefty agrees. I won't shop there. I shop only at independent, locally-owned groceries. In Rutland, that's the Co-op.

[Hatless Wonder]

Competition is a good thing. Big chains keep local merchants on their toes. I've lived in places where independent, locally-owned merchants were the only game in town, and they were terrible.

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by Hatless Wonder

There's a Target in Plattsburgh, though that's a long drive for paper towels.

Burlington has enough upscale natural food shops. Healthy Living is called "Wealthy Living" for the same reason Whole Foods is called "Whole Paycheck."

I'd love to see a Trader Joe's in Burlington. I'd also like to see a Family Dollar (the nearest one is in St. Albans) and a Market Basket. Hey, the area has a lot of struggling people, and the South Burlington K-Mart is depressing.

..we here in Cambridge, MA, also refer to Whole Foods as "Whole Paycheck".

Is Grand Union still around, or have they been completely replaced by Shaw's and Price Chopper?

BTW, CVS is basically everywhere now (the Northeast, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc)

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by MassVt

..we here in Cambridge, MA, also refer to Whole Foods as "Whole Paycheck".

Is Grand Union still around, or have they been completely replaced by Shaw's and Price Chopper?

BTW, CVS is basically everywhere now (the Northeast, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc)

There are a handful of grand unions in Vermont-usually fairly small. There was one in South Burlington until last year, that store is now a Price Chopper.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by MassVt

..we here in Cambridge, MA, also refer to Whole Foods as "Whole Paycheck".

Is Grand Union still around, or have they been completely replaced by Shaw's and Price Chopper?

BTW, CVS is basically everywhere now (the Northeast, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc)

There's a CVS in northern FL where my parents live.

[68vette]

Originally Posted by tkln

From my understanding, this is definitely part of it. I've done some reading on this and seems like the small farmers don't qualify for most of the subsidizing and grants that the large scale commercial factories do (and to me, most of those large farms are factories). It's a shame that the little guy, who usually grows the healthiest and best tasting vegetables, dairy and meat, gets squeezed out on all ends. The government doesn't help them out and the consumer can't afford to purchase their products.

I don't have a lot of extra money to toss around but I try my hardest to buy locally grown food, including meat. I'll pay extra for that grass fed beef, but $3.50 for two zucchinis is pushing it.

One of the other things that the smaller farmer can't meet is quantity. It's easier and cheaper to buy from the large farms. This country has grown into the habit that bigger is better and uniformity in everything is a must. For example, if someone was in a grocery store and saw two heads of garlic. One is a small head while the other is a big plump head, they would choose the bigger head 9 times out of ten. What they may not realize is the smaller head has more flavor. This is the same with everything we buy in the grocery store. The stores have to buy as much as possible in a uniform size and shape. This will vary from farm to farm.
The smaller farmers have to charge more for their produce. Then that gets passed on to the consumer(lack of subsidizing). That is why we are charged 3.50 for two zucchinis. A crazy thought to me since it's summer and most people who garden are giving it away free.

[AstarothCY]

Kind of a random question, but does anyone know whether you can buy Halloumi (cyprus cheese) anywhere in the Burlington area?

[HelenBick]

I am very excited about Whole Foods. I have shopped at one in Western Mass several times and always saved the sales receipt to compare prices a City Market. Let me tell you every item at Whole Foods was cheaper. This is a store that will give more Vermonters access to healthy, affordable, whole grain food. I think that produce would be cheaper at the local supermarkets, but if you're in to organic Whole Foods should be very competitive to what is in Chittenden County. I've never heard of Trader Joe,s. What is this place all about?