The Whole Story About Whole Foods Market
Many organic food fans trust stores that sell largely organic produce. However, the merger of Whole Foods and Wild Oats may be a sign that it's time for the rose-colored glasses to come off.
It is growing harder to make the case that shopping at Whole Foods is socially commendable. Whole Foods has faced well-deserved criticism for its effects on the environment, and its employees.
Whole Foods is an "industrial organic" company that has done away with the local distribution that was the center of the 1960's back-to-nature movement. There is nothing environmentally friendly about Whole Food's practice of importing asparagus in from Argentina in January.
Whole Foods is also the second largest union-free food retailer, right behind Wal-Mart. Whole Foods has taken the position that unions are not valid.
Many of Whole Foods’ canned or boxed items contain MSG, even though it is on Whole Foods list of unacceptable food ingredients. Their dairy products may or may not contain rBGH.
Whole Foods is a Fortune 500 Company that owes its allegiance to its shareholders. It is exploiting a niche market, and has now cleared the field of major competitors, leaving it free to raise prices and reduce quality.
Whole Foods, the largest premium natural and organic supermarket chain in the United States, first entered into a merger plan with its chief rival Wild Oats in February 2007. Their plans were halted by the Federal Trace Commission (FTC) at the time, who contended that the merger violated federal antitrust laws by eliminating the substantial competition between the two close competitors. They also said it would give Whole Foods unilateral market power resulting in higher prices and reduced quality, service and choice for consumers.
Well, money spoke the loudest again, it would seem.
Certainly, Whole Foods Market has helped bring organic healthy and unprocessed foods to the mainstream market, but, like most large corporations, it will have to contend with its shareholders, even if that means cutting corners here and there in order to make a profit.
Are Large Corporations Friend or Foe in the Organic Market?
The creation of the organic market niche is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the involvement of large corporations has turned organic food into a $16-billion business, with sales growing by as much as 20 percent per year. What this means for many Americans is access to more organic foods, likely at lower prices.
Large corporations also have big advertising budgets, which means the idea of eating foods free from pesticides, genetically modified ingredients and raised in sustainable, humane ways is getting a lot of publicity, whereas just a couple of decades ago it was next to unheard of.
The downside, however, might outweigh the benefits.
Because as soon as big corporations dip their hands into a project, it automatically becomes about maximizing profits by churning out the largest amount of product for the least expense. If this means sacrificing some ethics and skimping on some quality, that’s a price they’re willing to pay.
As a result of organic going mainstream in national super-chains such as Wal-Mart and Whole Foods, the term “organic” has virtually lost its meaning, and it is no longer a guarantee that the food is any better for either you or the environment.
You can now buy organic versions of ice cream, potato chips, crackers, soda and just about anything else, but these foods are STILL not good for you; they’re still junk foods with little or no real nutritional value. And, from an environmental aspect, at least one study has found that the transportation of organic produce causes an environmental impact large enough to cancel out any environmental benefits.
So, when you take all these factors into account, buying local is often better than buying organic, because you get fresher foods that didn't use up excess fuel to be transported long distances. They’re also likely to be somewhat less expensive since the rising fuel costs inevitably get passed down the line to the end consumer...
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