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I think WF and TJs are equally trustable. They are both sourcing organics and other products internationally. WF gets criticized more as they have been associated with organics. WF produce is generally superior to the TJs produce. Meat too. WF also buys from local farms. Nothing is local at TJs. (and definitely not labelled local). Neither one is better than the other for food sourcing and quality. People just like TJs "friendly" face over WFs more "elitist" persona.
I am going to check the next time I go to TJ's. I thought I have seen local products there but I could be mistaken. I don't think they have a very good produce department but that is not a concern since I have much better soruces for that.
I don't go there often but there are some specialty items they sell that I like.
I am going to check the next time I go to TJ's. I thought I have seen local products there but I could be mistaken. I don't think they have a very good produce department but that is not a concern since I have much better soruces for that.
I don't go there often but there are some specialty items they sell that I like.
There are some exceptions if you live in the right state. For example, the organic eggs in CA are "Chino Farms" so it is kinda local.....but berries and most produce comes from Mexico/Chile/Argentina.
There are some exceptions if you live in the right state. For example, the organic eggs in CA are "Chino Farms" so it is kinda local.....but berries and most produce comes from Mexico/Chile/Argentina.
I have such better sources I only glance at their produce or eggs. So maybe that's why I never noticed.
WF has very good prices on their store label canned goods and staples. The WF whole wheat pasta is the best and cheapest.
I typically shop meats, bulk goods, canned goods, dairy and produce in desperation/convenience.
TJs doesn't sell local dairy, and WF does (at about the same prices as everywhere else in my region).
I buy my staples from Safeway. A heck of a lot cheaper than WF and just as good if you shop smart. I go to my local market to buy everything else. WF has nice produce but it is usually over priced.
I buy my staples from Safeway. A heck of a lot cheaper than WF and just as good if you shop smart. I go to my local market to buy everything else. WF has nice produce but it is usually over priced.
Me too. They just built a mega-Safeway just two blocks away from me. I shop carefully there. They have some good produce and other items. There is also a good supermarket, Fred Meyer, owned by Kroger for the past few years. They also have great produce and bargains. They are about a mile away. I don't drive so I take the bus there. Then there is the year round farmers market a few blocks away. They recently opened a small store next to them that sells locally caught fish, eggs from local farms, and grass fed beef.
There is no reason whatsoever for me to shop at Whole Foods; a place I neither like nor trust. As far as getting the healthy things from WF the OP is talking about, they can be gotten in many other and better places in my opinion.
I buy my staples from Safeway. A heck of a lot cheaper than WF and just as good if you shop smart. I go to my local market to buy everything else. WF has nice produce but it is usually over priced.
I used to think that. But in my region, Safeway and WF are within 10 cents of each other. Some things WF comes out on top and other things Safeway does. Since more stuff I want is at WF I just go there. Canned tomatoes, beans, etc it is all very very similar. A couple years ago, our newspaper did a shop-off of Safeway, Whole Foods, and a local chain. WF was only 10% more for the entire basket of stuff.
I also buy lots in bulk: and it is just not available at Safeway. I go to the indie local market when possible, but WF is super close to my house. It is the default "quick" option for me.
(Safeway positions themselves as an upscale grocer, and they jack up the prices by 20-30% if you live in a middle class or above area here in CA. It is not cheap at all.)
I should note that I live near one of the "atypical" WF. The demographics of shoppers is very different than a typical WF. Way more diverse and a much broader mix of incomes and lifestyles. If the first WF I went to wasn't the Berkeley one, I probably would thought it was elitist and horrible. But they do a lot experiments in the Berkeley and Oakland ones since the crowds are so different. It isn't surprising to see someone picking up porcini mushrooms with food stamps. And the next person in line is a typical yoga mom, and then you have you know the vegan with dreads and the young professional and other regular people.
I used to think that. But in my region, Safeway and WF are within 10 cents of each other. Some things WF comes out on top and other things Safeway does. Since more stuff I want is at WF I just go there. Canned tomatoes, beans, etc it is all very very similar. A couple years ago, our newspaper did a shop-off of Safeway, Whole Foods, and a local chain. WF was only 10% more for the entire basket of stuff.
I also buy lots in bulk: and it is just not available at Safeway. I go to the indie local market when possible, but WF is super close to my house. It is the default "quick" option for me.
(Safeway positions themselves as an upscale grocer, and they jack up the prices by 20-30% if you live in a middle class or above area here in CA. It is not cheap at all.)
I should note that I live near one of the "atypical" WF. The demographics of shoppers is very different than a typical WF. Way more diverse and a much broader mix of incomes and lifestyles. If the first WF I went to wasn't the Berkeley one, I probably would thought it was elitist and horrible. But they do a lot experiments in the Berkeley and Oakland ones since the crowds are so different. It isn't surprising to see someone picking up porcini mushrooms with food stamps. And the next person in line is a typical yoga mom, and then you have you know the vegan with dreads and the young professional and other regular people.
Thats why I go to my local market and farmers markets. I try and avoid WF. I prefer to give my money to the locally owned store. It is a rare day when I step into our WF. My local market is awesome, but pricier than Safeway so I do not buy staples there.
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