I grew up in a small town in the South. My mother was a holistic woman who always used to shop at our local health food store, which was the size of a big closet. So I grew up eating and loving things like carob and rice crackers. Going to my first Whole Foods while living in LA in the early 90s was like entering a utopia of sorts. It was huge and had things like hand-made soap, beeswax candles, rows and rows of natural body products, and organic produce all under one roof. Now living in the Northeast, as early as last year I had been known to drive an hour to the closest Whole Foods. Now we have one locally, so my effort is less.
My first Whole Foods experience launched my fascination with the store and with what John Mackey must have been like when he started Whole Foods: a cool hippie selling organic vegetables out of his garage. Fast forward 30 years and that cool hippie now runs a four-billion-dollar organic food empire. Wow! During the past year I have grown even more fascinated with him. The most recent articles and interviews don't put him in the best light. Needless to say, I still can't get enough of his off-the-wall views, book choices, and even his very vocal opinions on the environment, health care, and politics. Honestly, I don't share his environmental or health care views, but I do admire his passionate approach and boldness even knowing the uproar it will cause among his customers.
I recently mentioned Whole Foods in a Daily Living tip, and got tons of emails from people saying they will never shop at Whole Foods because of his beliefs! We as consumers must take responsibility, do the research, and read labels. I would say one of my most endearing qualities is the ability to focus on the good in people's accomplishments. I think we have to look at what John Mackey has done for the health of this country. We simply cannot overlook the fact that Whole Foods has not only been an integral part of the organic food movement but also Whole Foods has been on Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list for 13 consecutive years.
His interview on Reason.tv was enough to confirm he does have some interesting opinions on topics such as conscious capitalism and animal welfare. In my opinion, conscious capitalism is an extremely innovative concept. And yes, there are some glitches in Whole Foods, but Mackey is trying to meet high consumer demand, and I know there are consequences to that. We are dealing with a big business here. But it is a big, healthy business attempting to promote wellness. Yes, Mackey and Whole Foods may not be perfect, but for me the good outweighs the bad. Whole Foods made healthy food mainstream. I know my family is healthier because of John Mackey. I remain a fan!
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Our area has has number of stores with well-trained, reasonably well-paid union staffs, that provide ample natural food choices, and one locally owned chain has outstanding butcher shops. The service is excellent. Why should I buy from a mega-chain run by a lunatic from Texas?
I used to regularly shop there, but after the Rush Limbaugh, right wing lunatic rants that Mackey has given us--anti-health care, anti-union, anti-climate change, which he is using his position and wealth to promote, I say hasta la vista, baby!
Their brand and labeling also gives consumers a false sense of security. Their "360" brand of frozen "organic" vegetables come from China, yet they are able to place the USDA Certified Organic logo on the same package. Read the label, it says "Product of China" in tiny type. The USDA does not inspect organic imported food. But of course, if it's from Whole Foods it must be OK because their brand is strong (?)
You have every right to admire "his passionate approach and boldness", but just remember that passion and boldness also got us into 2 illegal wars, a failed economy and the worst health care system of any first world country.
The problem is, as many posters have pointed out already, that the big guys have the ability to manipulate distribution and have made it nearly impossible for small businesses to compete.
I have not and will never again shop at Whole (Paycheck) Foods. Besides, the produce I get from my local organic growers at the farmer's market is much fresher, less expensive, and support the people that need the health care Mr. Mackey doesn't support.
Riveting. Now how about you expound on what your old local co-op owner is doing now that big business Whole Foods has made it more difficult to bring you organic foods at competitive costs. Where is that story?
It would be better to accept the reality that business people ultimately are just profit seekers. If we want a greener world, we will have to mandate it through political action--the kind that will come at the expense of people like Mackey; he knows this, which is why he's opposed to any hint of a stronger public sector.
Well, I've had enough. I don't shop there anymore, and have found a decent substitute that is locally owned. Prices are slightly higher due to a lower volume of business, but I care enough about progressive causes to put my money where my mouth is. Whole Foods Board of Directors take note.
Where we choose to spend our money may be the most compelling vote the average person casts. I'm not going to give money to someone who denies global warming and would deny the less-fortunate access to health care.