whole foods

Farm to Plate: Wal-Mart to Sell Unlabeled Monsanto GMO Corn Direct to Consumers
Jeff Gangemi Aug 15, 2012 Whole Foods 0 comments
First things first. We are not here to pass judgment on Wal-Mart, which we can only assume has done its own research on whether GMO products are safe for consumers (their conclusion is obvious).  Instead, what’s interesting about Wal-Mart’s decision to sell Monsanto’s GE sweetcorn is that it’s the first time a consumer product developed by Monsanto will go straight from the farm to plate, instead of being processed first. Other retailers (Whole Foods and Trader Joes among them) have either decided not to sell the product, or have yet to weigh in. The other interesting element to this story, which we learned from EcoWatch, is that the product also won’t be labeled as genetically...
Whole Foods Local Forager Denise Breyley Names Her "Top 10" Local Producers
Jeff Gangemi Nov 18, 2011 Whole Foods 0 comments
Denise Breyley has one of the most coveted jobs in the local food world. As Whole Foods’ Local Forager in the Pacific Northwest and a 17-year veteran of the company, it’s her job to travel around Washington, Oregon and British Columbia in search of the next great local food products to sell at Whole Foods Market.  Breyley sees it as her mission to learn about the local community, find great local producers, and bring those products into Whole Foods’ stores. But more than that, she is dedicated to making food entrepreneurs successful. “Anyone can throw a local item on their shelf. My job is to make sure people have a good shot at being successful, that their products are actually going...
Judge Bans Genetically Modified Sugar Beets
FarmPlate Aug 17, 2010 Whole Foods 0 comments
Federal district court Judge Jeffrey S. White revoked the government's approval of the planting of genetically modified sugar beets Friday, August 13, in a San Francisco court. The beets, like "Roundup Ready" soybeans, are genetically engineered to resist Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller. Farmers that plant these varieties can use herbicides to kill weeds without hurting their crops, a process that is quicker than mechanical cultivation. The decision comes in the wake of the ongoing debate and increased concern that Roundup may be producing "super weeds." Judge White ruled that the Department of Agriculture did not take into account the environmental consequences before approving the beets for...
A Day At NYC's Tribeca Greenmarket
FarmPlate Jul 08, 2010 Whole Foods 0 comments
The 90-plus degree New York City weather didn't stop shoppers from picking up fresh food in the city's Tribeca neighborhood this Wednesday. Shoppers who could have easily slipped into the air-conditioned sanctuary of Whole Foods (a mere block away) were opting instead to support local farmers and bakers and stock their baskets at the Tribeca Greenmarket. The quiet, family-friendly market is located on Greenwich Street, between Chambers and Duane Streets, adjacent to a usually busy playground. It’s open year-round on Saturdays; it's also open on Wednesdays from April 7 to December 22. [caption id="attachment_4251" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Red and Yellow Swiss Chard from Alex...
Organic Food Inspection Group Banned By USDA
FarmPlate Jun 15, 2010 Whole Foods 0 comments
Foreign products that receive the USDA organic label can be found in supermarkets and natural food stores across the nation. To ensure products meet USDA organic standards, the U.S. government hires third party, independent inspectors. The USDA announced on Monday that it will ban the Organic Crop Improvement Association from operating in China because of conflicts of interest and concerns on food safety. The non-profit group has been a leading inspector of organic food for U.S. markets in China. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) “improperly used Chinese government employees to inspect Chinese farms that use state-owned land to grow...
The Organic Label's "Health Halo"
FarmPlate May 04, 2010 Whole Foods 0 comments
The organic label is everywhere--from produce and meat to grocery items. According to a new study, consumers often underestimate the calorie values of food with an organic label. The Cornell University Food and Brand Lab set out to investigate the impact of the organic label on the consumer. The findings of the study were presented last week at the Experimental Biology Conference in Anaheim, California. Cornell University Food and Brand Lab researchers gave a group of 54 college students Oreo cookies made with organic flour and sugar. Half of the group ate cookies that were labeled “organic” and the other half of the group was given unlabeled cookies. When asked to estimate the calories...
Food Modernization Act Has Shortcomings
FarmPlate Apr 13, 2010 Whole Foods 0 comments
"The food safety system in the U.S. is underfunded, overwhelmed, and in desperate need of new powers to keep us safe as Americans," said Illinois senator Dick Durbin at a Chicago grocery store last weekend, according to ABC News. Durbin is the sponsor for the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510) that will be debated by the full U.S. Senate as early as next week. Durbin's assessment of the food system is unfortunately quite accurate. Andrew Kimbrell, the Center for Food Safety's executive director, writes on the Huffington Post, "70 million Americans are sickened, 300,000 are hospitalized, and 5,000 die from food-borne illness every year." The Food Modernization Bill would expand the...
Healthy Food Awareness Continues to Hit Mainstream Media
FarmPlate Mar 30, 2010 Whole Foods 0 comments
Naked Chef Jamie Oliver's new prime-time reality show Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution premiered on ABC last week to high ratings. The show chronicles Oliver's attempt to revamp eating habits in Huntington, West Virginia, a community that is one of the most statistically unhealthy in the U.S. Oliver is a Food Network chef, healthy food advocate and TED prize winner. In the first two episodes, he tackles the Huntington cafeteria lunch menu, quizzes elementary students on their knowledge of vegetable basics and attempts to break one family of their reliance on deep-fried foods by introducing healthy recipes. [caption id="attachment_2962" align="alignleft" width="279" caption="Jamie Oliver,...
Major Chain Moves to Sell Only Wild Salmon
FarmPlate Feb 02, 2010 Whole Foods 2 comments
Target will no longer sell farm-raised salmon in any of its stores nationwide. Instead of sourcing from salmon farms, Target will stock only Alaskan, wild-caught salmon in its fresh, frozen and smoked seafood sections. The company cited environmental reasons behind the decision, which was announced last week. Target consulted conservationists with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch to determine how to make their seafood offerings more environmentally conscious. Farmed salmon, Target argues, can increase pollution, chemicals and parasites and hurt native salmon in surrounding areas. Julie Packard, executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, said “Target's decision to source...