Quote :

"These are the main things I usually get there: - Beans (black, pinto, dark red kidney) - 365 Brand. $.89/can non-organic. - Frozen Spinach - 365 Brand. $1.49/bag. - Eggs - Latta's Egg Ranch. $4.49ish for 18. - Non-organic Avacados on occasion. They're like $1.50 - Those big ass honeybuns from the deli area. $2.69-$2.89. Microwave that fucker! - Deli sausage on occasion when it's on sale. - Fresh Salad/Fruits/Veggies depending on what looks good, what I'm cooking, and what's on sale. None of the above is notably more or less expensive than equivalents at Food Lion; yet the quality of the food is generally better IMO. "

I dunno about not notably more or less expensive. I shop there about once a week, and most of their non-organic produce prices are notably higher than non-organic produce at FL and Kroger, but are usually of higher quality, so you get what you pay for. Avocados are usually a buck, not $1.50, I saw asparagus for $6.99/lb recently, while it's $4/$5 at FL and Kroger, and $2/pound at Costco. Fresh spinach is significantly more expensive, and unless they're on sale, tomatoes are too. You can get 18 eggs for just over 2 bucks at FL. I bought some bagged carrots that were significantly pricier than HT/FL/Kroger, but they were significantly tastier too!

Quote :

"If you want a bunch of processed shit prepared by people who hate you then you'll surely save money with your MVP card at Food Lion and the McDonalds dollar menu."

lol that's a hell of a mischaristation of Food Lion's offerings. I get good quality freshly cut pork from my FL for like a half the price of WF, even less when it's on sale. Butcher is a nice dude too Both stores sell plenty of processed foods Pricewise, Harris Teeter is a nice in-between for me. I shop at all three regularly.

Quote :

"I always have to negotiate at the Farmer's Market if I want to beat supermarket prices and half the vendors are just selling the same non-local stuff from the same distributors that service grocery stores. "

I don't know what it is, but often the produce I buy at the FM (of the more perishable variety for sure) don't last as long as store-bought counterparts. I'm sure that's a good thing, but I can't figure out why as I often buy non-organic at both.

Quote :

"A lot of their unpackaged foods are actually higher quality and lower price than other stores. Apples, oranges, grapes and other common fruits and veggies are usually the same price as places like Harris Teeter and Kroger but are usually organic and fresh."

I've got to disagree as stated above...especially if you're comparing non-organic from HT/Kroger and organic at WF.

Quote :

"Just stick to the 365 stuff and stuff on sale. "

That's pretty much what I do. I splurge for some stuff though. I like that WF has at least 1 company selling BPA-free cans, but I don't really buy cans much and I wonder what they're using instead anyway . I like their selection of speciality items too. I buy Pomi tomatoes pretty often too but not from WF as they're about 40% more than HT

Quote :

"I'll gladly pay the 2.99/lb for honeycrisps that don't have that pesticide glaze and huge mutated size."

Are those still in season? That's another thing I'd splurge for...

Quote :

"I can only find it at whole foods, but Better than Bouillon. It's a glass jar and def my favorite way to make a soup or season. I get the No Chicken Base for a minestrone I make. It pretty much makes the recipe. It's pricy but lasts awhile."

Love that stuff.

Quote :

"i get wayyyy too overwhelmed in the butcher section! help"

+1, I'm always like "I'm just looking" when they ask me what I want. Got some grass fed strips once for $texas...couldn't really taste a difference but I'm aware that's just me. I should try it again sometime...


http://www.checkbook.org/interactive/spmkt/other/w/article.cfm

Quote :

"Whole Foods Market had the highest prices. Whole Foods’ prices were 32 percent higher than the average of prices at Giant and Safeway—for the limited number of comparable items available at each chain. On the other hand, Whole Foods received high scores for quality of fresh produce and meat, which account for many of the items we could compare between Whole Foods and the other chains."

Higher prices, higher quality. Exactly what I said

[Edited on February 25, 2014 at 1:21 PM. Reason : survey]

2/25/2014 1:19:43 PM

Their bulk nuts are pretty fucking great in my opinion, but I eat a lot of almonds.

2/25/2014 3:10:49 PM

I loved the bulk section because when I wanted something I knew I wasn't going to use much (like red lentils), I could get just enough for that recipe.

2/25/2014 3:32:41 PM

This guy says you're buying pseudo-science if you shop at WF:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/23/whole-foods-america-s-temple-of-pseudoscience.html

2/25/2014 3:54:17 PM

I tried to read through that already. It's fucking stupid.

2/25/2014 4:06:37 PM

BULK

NUTS

2/25/2014 4:08:10 PM

Quote :

"I dunno about not notably more or less expensive. I shop there about once a week, and most of their non-organic produce prices are notably higher than non-organic produce at FL and Kroger, but are usually of higher quality, so you get what you pay for. Avocados are usually a buck, not $1.50, I saw asparagus for $6.99/lb recently, while it's $4/$5 at FL and Kroger, and $2/pound at Costco. Fresh spinach is significantly more expensive, and unless they're on sale, tomatoes are too. You can get 18 eggs for just over 2 bucks at FL. I bought some bagged carrots that were significantly pricier than HT/FL/Kroger, but they were significantly tastier too!"

You're comparing apples to oranges. You wouldn't complain that the BMW dealership is too expensive because a 135i costs twice as much as a Civic Si would you? It's a different car and commands a different price.

The reason WF doesn't have eggs for $.99/dozen is because they don't stock products at that quality level. Comparable eggs (free range, cage free, antibiotic free, etc.) will be a similar price between the two stores. Eggs are one of the few foods where there can be a radical difference in the nutritional quality of the cheapest version and the more expensive version. Without writing a wall of words, I'll just say that cheap eggs have a very unfavorable ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fats (big problem for most Americans), more cholesterol, much less beta carotene, lower levels of Vitamin A and E, and a slew of other measurable differences. A chicken that lives in a crate, eats pellets, and is pumped full of antibiotics isn't going to produce an egg similar to a chicken that gets exercise, eats a diet of greens & bugs, and is hormone/antibiotic free. You have to pay for that quality of food if you want it.

Here's a different way of looking at it that's worth considering though (this is where eggs and BMWs diverge, lol). Even though they may cost 4x as much, "expensive eggs" are still damn cheap when you consider the nutritional value you get for a buck. If I eat $1.25 worth of eggs per week instead of $7.00 worth of eggs for fifty weeks out of the year my savings is only $287.50. And that's a best case scenario going from $4/dozen to $1/dozen. A homemade breakfast is still incredibly cheap compared to anything you'd find at a restaurant regardless of whether you spend $.50 on it or $1.50. For the vast majority of us, there are better ways to save money than looking at the food we cook from scratch in our own homes IMHO. For those who are going through a tough time financially I understand cutting all easily avoidable expenses, but quality food would be one of the first things I'd add back in when the finances will allow it. For most people all they have to do is cook one extra meal at home per week and they'll net enough savings to offset the cost. Like I said...there are better ways to save money for the vast majority of people.

[Edited on February 25, 2014 at 5:08 PM. Reason : l]

2/25/2014 4:57:25 PM

let's just be clear.

Quote :

"a chicken that gets exercise, eats a diet of greens & bugs,"

is still not what you're getting at whole foods

2/25/2014 5:36:02 PM

Clearly I was responding to:

Quote :

"None of the above is notably more or less expensive than equivalents at Food Lion"

But thanks for agreeing with me all the same.

2/25/2014 6:06:43 PM

mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation mischaristation

2/25/2014 8:07:58 PM

I hope OP chokes on his Fennel bulb

2/25/2014 10:08:18 PM

^^^^it's what I get for free from my tiny baby niece's chickens, so shove it

2/25/2014 10:40:34 PM

Justin's Honey Almond Butter

2/26/2014 8:10:27 AM

Try to refrain from giving yourself a pat on the back if you visit the meat counter.

2/26/2014 8:18:49 AM

Whole Foods $10 giftcard for $5!

Enjoy!

https://www.groupon.com/deals/whole-foods-market

2/26/2014 8:11:30 PM

Nice...just bought one.

2/26/2014 10:47:17 PM

I shop at the Wh on Six Forks, but I have to occasioanlly go to the one on Wade Ave since they have the larger sizes of Weeks honey that I LOVEEEEEEEE (Buckwheat and Wildflower).

2/26/2014 11:04:51 PM

http://lifehacker.com/the-best-things-to-buy-at-whole-foods-for-better-value-1590006291

6/16/2014 3:05:17 PM

Quote :

"You're comparing apples to oranges. You wouldn't complain that the BMW dealership is too expensive because a 135i costs twice as much as a Civic Si would you? It's a different car and commands a different price."

Your comparison isn't that great either.

Are you saying WF products are more nutritious/better for you because they're organic/cage free/etc?

6/16/2014 4:29:50 PM

that breakfast bar is on point

6/17/2014 4:27:59 PM

It is. You can find me there alone and hungover in my sunglasses--it's the only time I read the paper.

[Edited on June 17, 2014 at 5:35 PM. Reason : ]

6/17/2014 5:34:13 PM

lol at compassionate meat

6/18/2014 10:18:25 PM

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2014/06/25/whole-foods-fined-800k-for-overpricing.html

6/25/2014 9:52:14 PM

^LOL

I always knew they sucked for some reason

and now we know that reason :3

6/25/2014 9:55:51 PM

Their hot food bars are usually pretty good as are their soups. I'll shop there maybe every couple weeks for various ingredients. I haven't really compared the prices to other grocery stores. I buy organic / free range chicken and eggs but for produce I can't afford that shit. I get most of my bulk produce items from Costco. Way cheaper and free samples.

[Edited on June 26, 2014 at 5:51 PM. Reason : s]

6/26/2014 5:51:09 PM

Yeah, but let's be honest, not every variety of produce is worth buying organic. Apples - hell yes; bananas - nope.

6/28/2014 11:16:20 AM

^ There's a strong ethical argument for the purchasing of organic bananas. Organic isn't just about the impact to you and your body. There's a bigger picture that's worth thinking about.

This came up with a quick google search, but I'm sure there are more scientific articles out there if you care to research it:
http://www.bhopal.net/worldmap/bananas_more.html

[Edited on June 28, 2014 at 1:31 PM. Reason : l]

6/28/2014 1:30:58 PM

I think I died in there....

Wish I was rich. Well hopefully, I will be once I finish this degree and get a high paying job!

8/17/2014 9:19:22 PM

Beer & pizza

8/17/2014 10:10:23 PM

Just went there tonight.

20% case wine discount FTW. Love their produce too.

8/17/2014 10:14:36 PM

Looking fwd to this new one by my home and workplace. Cary Whole Foods #2 http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/real-estate/2014/07/whole-foods-market-planning-new-store-for-cary.html

8/18/2014 12:49:07 AM

Looking fwd to this new one by my home and workplace. Cary Whole Foods #2 http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/real-estate/2014/07/whole-foods-market-planning-new-store-for-cary.html

8/18/2014 12:49:45 AM

Quote :

"Forget ‘Whole Paycheck’—This Grocery Chain Now Beats Many Competitors’ Prices"

http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/09/12/whole-foods-discount-grocery?cmpid=foodinc-fb

10/9/2014 12:58:20 PM

Quote :

"What to add to your cart: ? Organic milk ? Shredded mozzarella ? Cream cheese ? Organic frozen vegetables When blogger Lisa Johnson shopped exclusively from Whole Foods using the USDA’s “thrifty” food budget of $16.31 per day for her family of three, she relied heavily on frozen veggies: “We wouldn’t have made it, frankly, without them.” ? Sweeteners Check out the prices on light brown sugar and organic powdered sugar, as well as maple syrup and organic raw agave nectar. ? Organic chicken broth ? Organic coconut oil ? Olive oil ? Grains Not all grains at Whole Foods are cheap, but check the prices on organic quinoa, buckwheat, and jasmine rice. ? Pasta ? Peanut butter ? Organic popcorn ? Roasted whole nuts The bulk bins don’t necessarily mean bargains (look alive, shelled pistachios), but check out the prices on almonds and cashews. ? Energy bars"

I don't really eat any of those things. Maybe some energy bars, coconut oil, and olive oil, but those are all vastly cheaper at Costco. Usually it's meat and produce and the food bar I get at Whole Foods.

10/9/2014 1:58:36 PM

I buy the loose leaf lettuce and put it in my salad spinner. Really high quality and fresh.

the Garlic Expressions dressing/marinade is hands down the best salad dressing I've ever had, I can't recommend it enough although they've started carrying it at other stores now.

I also like getting the "trinity mix" of chopped veggies (red and yellow bell peppers, onions, celery) and just putting it on salad. It's actually really cheap and when you count the time you'd spend prepping the stuff yourself, I think it's worth it.

They have a good selection of cheese but their shredded cheeses are ridiculously over-priced in my opinion.

I'd rather go to the seafood market for seafood, and to Fresh Market for quality meats. Kroger (at least in North Raleigh) has awesome prices on meat and the quality is fine with me.

10/9/2014 5:26:42 PM

Yeah the big reason for me is it's the only grocery store within walking distance. There's a farmers market every Sunday near by that we walk to as well. The other stores involve getting in a car and driving 10-15 minutes.

10/9/2014 5:38:06 PM

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-find-deals-at-whole-foods-2014-11

11/6/2014 11:56:43 AM

You should be buying the Samosas and the soup

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

11/6/2014 12:07:18 PM

nothing their prices are too damn high

11/6/2014 12:13:27 PM

The one near me has really good pizza (from the hot food section). One day they had a fried green tomato pizza which was the best thing ever. Everyone I have tried had been delicious though!! Mmm now I want pizza.

[Edited on November 6, 2014 at 12:31 PM. Reason : Fat fingers ]

11/6/2014 12:30:15 PM

Whole foods in PA are terrible. The ones out west are pretty dope.

I'm Krallum and I approved this message.

11/6/2014 12:31:05 PM

I find it to be a hell of a great place to meet women.

11/6/2014 8:47:24 PM

^^^ Their take and bake pizzas are really good too. I think they're ~$9 for the ones with toppings. Still cheaper than delivery.

11/6/2014 9:41:52 PM

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/exclusive-foods-faces-city-probe-overcharges-article-1.2268695

6/24/2015 4:49:47 PM

roast beef sandwich was probably advertising 3 oz of roast beef, not the weight of the sandwich, like dummy is putting on the scale

[Edited on June 24, 2015 at 4:57 PM. Reason : "wow this steak sandwich weighs 11 oz when the menu says its an 8oz ribeye!"]

6/24/2015 4:56:45 PM

Not asparagus water - http://laist.com/2015/08/03/lol_whole_foods_seriously_carried_t.php

8/4/2015 2:41:35 PM

nothing

8/4/2015 3:42:00 PM

I got some nice local roma tomatoes from one yesterday for $1/pound.

8/4/2015 5:26:53 PM

Their black forest bacon is the shit. Also their fried chicken and brussels sprout / kale salad is awesome. I don't get many actual groceries there but when we want a quick cheap dinner (compared to going out) we walk down and pick some hot food up. You can get enough fried chicken and salad to fill you up for under $10.

8/4/2015 6:36:50 PM