I love WF, but as others have said, it's more of a treat than a regular thing for me, though I always get several vegan things there that I can't find anywhere else. No way could I afford to shop there every week. Yikes....well, unless I won the lottery, haha.
Surviving Whole Foods
- Thread starter Amy SF
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sequoia
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I hate and love whole foods. I hate the way they treat their employees. I hate the attitudes of the people who shop and work there. I hate seeing signs for "humane" meat. But it is convenient one-stop shopping. I wish the vegetarian/vegan co-op I usually shop at carried as much vegan fare as whole foods.
OP
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If the co-op in Santa Monica was as well-stocked as Whole Foods, I'd be a happy camper. But WF has tons of stuff I can't find at the co-op, especially since we have a WF in Santa Monica that's huge. It takes up a whole city block, and the co-op is a lot smaller. 
ledboots
Peace
The employees at my whole foods are really nice; I hope they're treated well. I really hate the meat and cheese sections of the store.
sequoia
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Well they suspended two employees in their Albuquerque store for speaking Spanish on the job.
Which is a really horrible policy for any company to have. English only? Why? Especially in the Southwest and West where we have so many Spanish-speaking immigrants. It's just easier for them to communicate with each other in their native tongue and it doesn't hurt anyone when they do. English isn't even this country's national language anyway.
Then there's this: http://socialistworker.org/2009/05/07/smells-at-whole-foods
ledboots
Peace
That's horrible! It makes sense to hire bilingual, especially in places with lots of Spanish speakers.
OP
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The problem is that there's a perception that Whole Foods attracts mainly white and well-to-do shoppers, especially because the stores are so expensive. There's just a "white, rich" kind of vibe about the whole company that keeps minority shoppers away, and with actions like that mentioned above, the company seems determined to promote that perception.
Some years ago I read a newspaper column about an incident in which a father brought his young son to Whole Foods, my Whole Foods in Santa Monica, mind you, and spoke Spanish to his son. A female customer had the nerve to go over and berate the father for *gasp* speaking another language to his own kid! I was appalled when I read about it. What business was it of hers? How many other bigots like this woman live in MY town? Do these English-only people ever realize that being bi, tri or multilingual is actually a GOOD thing, especially in a multicultural area such as Los Angeles County? Knowing more than one language makes people smarter. It's been proven. It helps them see the world beyond their own little noses. It helps them get jobs in multicultural areas like Los Angeles, not to mention elsewhere. And it's ******* cool to be able to speak another language and understand people. Damn I was ******!
Some years ago I read a newspaper column about an incident in which a father brought his young son to Whole Foods, my Whole Foods in Santa Monica, mind you, and spoke Spanish to his son. A female customer had the nerve to go over and berate the father for *gasp* speaking another language to his own kid! I was appalled when I read about it. What business was it of hers? How many other bigots like this woman live in MY town? Do these English-only people ever realize that being bi, tri or multilingual is actually a GOOD thing, especially in a multicultural area such as Los Angeles County? Knowing more than one language makes people smarter. It's been proven. It helps them see the world beyond their own little noses. It helps them get jobs in multicultural areas like Los Angeles, not to mention elsewhere. And it's ******* cool to be able to speak another language and understand people. Damn I was ******!
sequoia
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I know right? It confuses me sooooo much.
On an application it will ask if you speak more than one language and it is seen as a good thing to be able to.
But when you actually do speak that language you get in trouble?
I bet that if they were speaking French it wouldn't have been an issue.
sequoia
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My friend goes to a Native American art school down in Santa Fe and she told me this anecdote that she heard about a Navajo man. Anyway, the man was speaking Navajo to his son and some whitey told him to go back to Mexico if he wanted to speak Mexican. The Navajo man informed him that he was speaking this country's first language and that the white guy should go back to Europe if he wants to speak English. 
OP
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Maybe he got it from this.
The First And True Language Of America
Grocery Store | Santa Fe, NM, USA | Bigotry, History, Language & Words
(I’m waiting in line behind a woman speaking on her cellphone in another language. Ahead of her is a white man. After the woman hangs up, he speaks up.)
Man: “I didn’t want to say anything while you were on the phone, but you’re in America now. You need to speak English.”
Woman: “Excuse me?”
Man: *very slow* “If you want to speak Mexican, go back to Mexico. In America, we speak English.”
Woman: “Sir, I was speaking Navajo. If you want to speak English, go back to England.”
The First And True Language Of America
Grocery Store | Santa Fe, NM, USA | Bigotry, History, Language & Words
(I’m waiting in line behind a woman speaking on her cellphone in another language. Ahead of her is a white man. After the woman hangs up, he speaks up.)
Man: “I didn’t want to say anything while you were on the phone, but you’re in America now. You need to speak English.”
Woman: “Excuse me?”
Man: *very slow* “If you want to speak Mexican, go back to Mexico. In America, we speak English.”
Woman: “Sir, I was speaking Navajo. If you want to speak English, go back to England.”
Wolfie
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I just want their salad bar/prepared foods section. Anything else I can find at a regular grocery store and probably cheaper. But it would be nice to be able to grab lunch when I need it quick without resorting to Taco Bell. But the article was funny. And I really, really want to go into one and ask for a bag.
Maybe he got it from this.
The First And True Language Of America
Grocery Store | Santa Fe, NM, USA | Bigotry, History, Language & Words
(I’m waiting in line behind a woman speaking on her cellphone in another language. Ahead of her is a white man. After the woman hangs up, he speaks up.)
Man: “I didn’t want to say anything while you were on the phone, but you’re in America now. You need to speak English.”
Woman: “Excuse me?”
Man: *very slow* “If you want to speak Mexican, go back to Mexico. In America, we speak English.”
Woman: “Sir, I was speaking Navajo. If you want to speak English, go back to England.”
Very funny ! As Mexico was conquered by Spain; they actually speak Spanish.
beancounter
The Fire That Burns Within
I only go to WF when I can’t find a specialty item anywhere else.
Ever since I found out that the company’s CEO is a hard core Libertarian, and doesn’t hold the same values that WF claims to hold, I make an effort to avoid the place.
Ever since I found out that the company’s CEO is a hard core Libertarian, and doesn’t hold the same values that WF claims to hold, I make an effort to avoid the place.
ledboots
Peace
This John Mackey guy? ; http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mackey_(businessman)
For me it's hard to hate him when he only takes a dollar CEO salary per year, started the first vegetarian grocery in the US, and has been vegan for years. I didn't read the political views part, but I like a vegan.
Wolfie
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Well that would make me more likely to go.
But there's not one close to me anyway. I've only been 1 time when I was out of town.
OP
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This John Mackey guy? ; http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mackey_(businessman)
For me it's hard to hate him when he only takes a dollar CEO salary per year, started the first vegetarian grocery in the US, and has been vegan for years. I didn't read the political views part, but I like a vegan.
If you want to see a really funny send-up of John Mackey, or a John Mackey-type of business owner, you have to watch Steve Martin in the movie Baby Mama. He is really hilarious in this movie.
