How Whole Foods Changed Organic Food
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- Опубликовано: 9 ноя 2021
- Whole Foods has managed to make a name for themselves within the health food industry, but in the process labelled everything they could as “organic”. When faced with options like organic Kraft Dinner or Doritos, what does organic even mean anymore?
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Script: Bénédicte Herbout
Animator: Zachary Kastrukoff
Editor: Reid Valaitis
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organic doritos, lol
Right?? 😜
Yes, we do want organic doritos, and KD. There should be a little less poison with your poisons , know what I mean? I do think this is the end goal, that all food , no matter what should be organic. Less crap in the food, less crap in the environment and our bodies. Just imagine if we never started down the path of non-organic?
@@nancyneyedly4587 if you consider it poison, the ideal would be to drive doritos out of business.idk y it hasnt happend already, i mean who likes doritos anyway?
Well it's the US. They seem to prefer to add anything but food to their foodstuff.
@@nancyneyedly4587 GMOs aren’t bad for you. It’s the only way to feed a growing population. The world’s poor will be affected the most if we aren’t able to scale our food production. People will starve to death.
Our local Whole Foods used to have a fantastic, delicious bread selection. My parents literally bought bread only from Whole Foods and would go out of their way to drive there.
After Amazon bought it, the bread disappeared. It’s now been standardized and is no different from other stores. My dad actually learned to bake bread himself and we’ve been testing out different local bakeries and farmer’s markets as well to try and find good bread.
seriously, ever since whole foods has been bought from amazon their quality has gone down the drain
the food is TERRIBLE now! ever since amazon bought it. there was a very very very noticeable shift in quality. such a shame, but not surprised in the slightest
If you can try to find a German bakerie. Their bread is always incredible.
We actually have some fantastic bread from a local bakery at our Whole Foods, it's one of the few good things they have here haha
Just make your own. I do my own too way better :P and the taste of fresh bread with a slice of cheeese and cucumber aah.
I actively avoid anything labeled "organic" at the grocery store since that just means it's overpriced. I get as much produce as I can from the local farmer's market and small grocery shop and the quality is so much better than big chain grocery stores
literally organic is mostly a marketing trick and it works well enough because now most things have a "organic" variant
Wait till u find out most local farmers market produce doesn't actually come from local markets lol
Organic means healthy and is worth every penny. Farmers markets don't mean quality
@@sumthinfresh Organic foods are a LOT healthier for you like you said. No carcinogens or pesticides/herbicides for me/us!!!
U trippin
This makes me sad... USDA Organic is something that I've strived to be able to feed my family. Places like Aldi and their organic food has made it possible for me to afford buying organic. Living in the North, as you are aware, makes shopping at farmers markets impossible for about 6-8 months of the year. We heavily rely upon grocery stores. It makes me sad that we can't fully trust ANOTHER government agency that's "suppose" to be protecting us. Thank you Levi for all you do.
It's all about the money. They don't give a crap about your health.
With all do respect the thought of being able to trust a government agency was wrong from the start.
the govt is only as good as the people working there and running that agency. however we need regulation and we need safety nets and the govt while not perfect does still provide those. its also hard because the corporations are constantly working to reduce the power of govt and increase their own power
seems organic is still good/best as long as we are getting unprocessed whole food. i am careful not to buy the dirty dozen unless it is organic. i buy as much organic as i can and I am working to get processed food out of my life.
We purchase around 95% organic and are in the process of finishing a 30X50 foot greenhouse to start growing all our veggies in. We just planted 10 orchard trees, blueberries, raspberries, and we also buy local as much as we can. Local in my opinion is MUCH better than organic food at the store. All our meat is locally raised as well!
It is very difficult to navigate the current food system--you have to be an acute label reader and it takes a lot more time and expense to eat healthy. But it's so worth it, as I'd rather spend the money now on healthy food than have a lifetime of medical bills
That's amazing! We also agree, local (whether it's technically organic or not) is always best.
Great 👍 you’re wasting time and money
I primarily shop at my local co-op, but typically don't get the organic products just because of price. Main exception to that is broccoli and that's because the conventional broccoli they carry has a lot more stem than the organic, and I don't want to pay for and waste the part of the broccoli that I won't eat. If I am at a conventional store I'll get the organic milk because it lasts forever, but at the co-op I get non-organic local milk because it's in a glass bottle that I return and then gets refilled. I really appreciate how many of the things that I can buy there are locally produced
That's what it's all about, really, picking and choosing what works best for your lifestyle while still having a positive impact on the planet. Thanks for joining us here!! P.S. Broccoli stems chopped up finely are great in a stir fry 😉💪
LunaBat, you should be eating the stem of the broccoli, just peel the outer skin off it and slice it up and prepare with your your florets. It is actually tender, sweeter and less sulfury tasting the the florets. Also, I have found organic broccoli to be sweeter and tastier, but certain times of the year it can be prone to bugs (no pesticides) so have to watch for that.
@@nancyneyedly4587 the stem of the broccoli is my favorite part!
I chop broccoli stems & cook still soft. Good mixed with other veggies or in soups. Great with lentils too.
@@62WILDCAT Can also make a nice green sauce for pasta, with a bit of oil, veg stock, lemon juice, and basil.
I'm from France but it was super interesting, thank you ! I think there is so much to say about food and the impact of how we eat. For the past 10 years, the growth of plant-based eating (which is a great thing for the main part) has also been the growth of food trends around exotic fruits and nuts. And I feel like we are only now starting to realise the negative impact of it. The question that remains it: how can we make a local and mainly plant-based diet not boring?? Would love to see videos on these topics ! Thank you so much for your work
It's definitely hard to eat 100% locally without getting tired of the same food... great suggestion! Thanks for tuning in 🔥
Get some cooking ideas from cookbooks that address vegetarian and vegan cultures. Including historical northern European cookery, looking for recipes for fast days and Lent. I have also found the cookbook from organic veg supplier Riverford (based in the UK) has some good ideas (and also Hugh F-W's River Cottage cookbooks has some good suggestions for organic vegetarian and "flexitarian"
@@FutureProofTV the number of recipes you can make, starting with just flour, oil, sugar + 1 other seasonal ingredient. Mind-blowing diversity
People should still eat meat. Not as much as americans do, they eat like half a cow in one sitting. No, you should eat a bit of meat with at least one meal a day. Humans aren't herbivores. We need meat. Yea you can substitute the minerals you get from meat with pills but they do not get metabolized the same way as eating the stuff on a regular. (this is also why taking vitamin pills to "substitute" veggies and fruits is a horrible idea. Your body will just expel whatever was in the pill)
@@rogerramjet8369 Much like with all things, its not quite as black and white as you portray it. Whilst plant-based food can be processed and can be incredibly unhealthy, a raw carrot really doesn't get the same level of processing as a sausage does.
As far as EV goes, yes, both in the construction and powering of said vehicle fossil fuels are used. But they aren't necessary. The large scale adoption of both green energy as well as nuclear power will reduce the c02 impact of these vehicles by 95%.
Reality just is, (that's a weird place for a comma) not what you would like it to be.
Ok just to say about the Organic Doritos thing I'm allergic to artificial food dye so I haven't been able to have the OG Doritos for AGES. I'm happy there's at least one kind I can eat now which hopefully will cause the other ones to have the shift. Kinda like Kraft mac and cheese
yeah the organic doritos arent a meme or something stupid. It's cool they exist.
I haven't had Doritos in 4 years and have no desire to ever again. They aren't good. Same with Kraft Mac and cheese. Just make actually good Mac and cheese and you won't want that crap anyway.
And it doesn't have to be organic for you to eat it. They just don't have to use artificial dyes. Which many like yellow 5 are being linked to health problems.
Thank you for making this video! Yeah, I stopped shopping at Whole Foods when I found out Amazon bought them. I mostly shop at my local farmers market and a store called Fresh Thyme for my food. I would love to see a video talking more about Whole Foods in the future!
Glad you enjoyed, we might do some more food/grocery related content in the future! Thanks for taking the time to comment + support what we're doing!!
What's your opinion of Fresh Thyme as compared to Whole Foods? My family usually shops at Whole Foods but we are trying to find alternatives. We have a lot of food allergies and eat healthily, usually home-cooked from scratch. Do you think Fresh Thyme would be a good option instead?
@@Chickadee2202 yeah, I personally think that Fresh Thyme is better than Whole Foods. I haven’t really done any research about Fresh Thyme as an overall ethical company. But mostly because they aren’t owned by Amazon, I think they’re a better option. They have less food options as Whole Foods has, but they still have a lot of organic, more natural foods. They also have bulk bins where I can refill my own container with beans or oats and things like that which is another reason I really like them. If you have anything specific about them you want to know, please feel free to let me know :) But overall, I think they’re a great alternative to Whole Foods :) and I think Fresh Thyme would be a great option if you’re looking for a store where you can get base foods so you can cook meals from scratch
@@kathryncryts5537 Thanks for your input! I definitely want to check it out and start buying some of our stuff there soon. I usually can't get stuff from the bulk bins because of possible cross-contamination from nuts, unfortunately.
@@Chickadee2202 that’s unfortunate, I’m sorry to hear that, but that definitely makes sense. But yeah, they’re an excellent store, I definitely recommend them and hope they work out great for you :)
I would love to see a video about when buying organic is actually the most environmentally friendly option, because it definitely isn't always.
1. If you have to choose between organic and locally sourced, locally sourced is pretty universally a more environmentally friendly option.
2. A lot of organic products take vastly more water to farm, which is disastrous in some areas. (See: The better part of the West Coast of the US.)
3. Both organic and chemical fertilizers can cause environmental damage, but organic fertilizers are a worse choice in some areas since they contain more bacteria. (See: E-coli outbreaks.)
4. Spoilage is frequently an issue with organic crops, meaning it takes more resources to get less product on store shelves for consumers.
I could go on. I feel like this issue is super nuanced, and reducing it to, "Organic good, chemical bad" unhelpful and untrue. Making the choice that feels good, or feels environmentally friendly isn't always the choice that is actually better for the earth. (See: Pleather.)
I live in Hongkong .orgainc food and consistent organic /ethical production garments are all too expensive to afford and in HK is hard to find nonplastic water. but your video is really positive to change lifeway.
i used to work at whole foods! started right before the amazon transition. once it arrived....it sucked. starting though WF had so many great things going for them. I would like to hear more about Jeff Bezos tho!
It's definitely up there on our video ideas list! Thanks for tuning in 💪
The Wholefoods near me is not really more expensive than that overpriced supermarket. Since I have steered clear from that supermarket. After Amazon however, some products have changed not to the better. I once loved their cubed pineapple is no long the same sweet juicy ones. It joins all the crappy ones in the neighborhood stores.
I am also a former whole foods team member. I use to LOVE my job before the big takeover.
I worked there seasonally in December 2020. I hated having to stop stocking the shelves to go be a personal shopper. But I did still love working there!
@@FutureProofTV What "ours"? Who else is working woth you? Are you hallucinating again???
Watching the this and reading the comments makes me realize how much of a "healthy food desert" I live in, but fortunately we just got a natural grocers that supplies quite a bit of local produce at a good price but is by no means "zero waste". I guess we have to do the best with what we got but hopefully things might trend better in the future. Great new channel! I enjoy both styles of your channel and look forward to more videos
Local options is more than many people have. It is something.
Especially when that means you can have a relationship with those people in your community and give them suggestions on how they can be more sustainable.
Alot of people, especially generational farmers and small producers, just don't know about that stuff.
Nice I love natural grocers
Honestly, you can just go to any supermarket and just buy fruits and veggies. They aren't that expensive and ever the canned variety can be good. People like to over complicate healthy eating by saying it needs to be biological or organic. In reality those labels often are just marketing gimmics. A biological carrot is in no way healthier than a normal carrot.
Thank you for covering the small farm aspect of this. There is a ton of paperwork and record keeping that goes into being certified that small farms just don't have the time or money to do.
I love the editing lol! This channel is amazing and I love both videos you have put out! Thank you for starting this channel, it is very helpful while also enjoyable.
My family has been shopping at Whole Foods for ages, mainly because they were one of the few places with allergy-friendly food before it was so widespread. We noticed an immediate negative change when Amazon bought it, and we no longer like it that much, especially the really high prices. We were very disappointed with it. We can often find identical things way cheaper elsewhere, but it is hard having to run around to six different stores to get all the stuff we need where it is cheaper or available.
One comment of organic food as a whole: the difference between organic and not seems to have decreased in the last ten years or so. I used to be able to tell by eating produce if it was organic or not, but I can't tell at all now. I assume organic produce is still better, but sometimes the non-organic tastes better or fresher than the organic produce. Often even the organic produce isn't very good, which is disappointing since I am in the city and don't have much access to farmer's markets, especially when they are so much more expensive than even organic produce.
We're so glad you've enjoyed our content. That's unfortunate that affordable access to local produce still isn't commonplace in some cities, hopefully we're getting closer to a future where nobody will have to rely on places like Whole Foods to get healthy groceries. Thanks so much for the comment + tuning in, we really appreciate the support!
May I note as a vermicomposter that I would expect better size and taste from organic. More biomass so to speak. Present studies show that we really do not know what plants could look like if they had the living soil to grow in.
However, hydroponic systems can have get organic certification, yet they are not grown with the same variety or amount of microorganisms as soil grown organic.
Yes, I shop at whole Foods. It's convenient and the produce, when I need it, is better than most of the alternatives. We also subscribe to a local CSA so I only buy produce that we can't get from our CSA.
Thanks for joining us here !
Now that its two years later, would love to have another video on how the brand changed since the acquisition by Amazon
I'm a big whole foods / organic food enjoyer, but seeing videos like this helps make the bigger picture easier to understand, I definitely would love to watch a video about whole foods, maybe some things they could be hiding / sweeping under the rug?
I’m so glad this channel exists, thanks Levi (and co.?)!
It's a big team working on this end, we're so glad you're enjoying what we've created here! Stay tuned for what's to come!!
These are a great series of videos! I really like these deep dive style topics. It’d be great if you could talk about buildings (and the building industry), since they make up for the largest carbon producing sector. I work in architecture here in California and it’s something we have to deal with on a daily basis. Keep up the great work!
Great suggestion! We're definitely interested in going into urban planning, architecture, and general city infrastructure eventually. Thanks for the support!!
Whole Foods may be a step above Walmart/Costco but they don't have anything on my co-op & local farmers
Big agree that you can taste the difference. Thanks for the comment + your support!
I really feel like this channel will soon hit 100k very fast, then hit 1 million very fast, theses types of channels don't stay a low numbers!
The organic label doesn't mean much to me, we buy local, and when possible from people we know and trust. Loving the content! Cheers!
Thanks for the support, cheers!!!
It is important for people who want avoid GMOs in particular
@@peterbrenton410 what's wrong with GMOs? I thought GMO stood for genetically modified organism. How can that be unhealthy?
@@bland9876
Gmos primarily refer to Crops that have been modified to be resistant to synthetic herbicides and incestidices meaning they can be sprayed with them and survive and only invading weeds and pests will die. This is bad because synthetic herbicides fertilizers etc are horrible toxic and destroy the soil as well as accumulate in the crop which will then be eaten by the consumer
I started eating organic at the beginning of 2021 and I will never go back to conventional food ever again. In 2021 alone I lost all of the covid weight that I had gained and more which for me was a lot and is a big deal because I’ve never in my life been able to drop 35 pounds within a year and I did it all because I started eating organic. My energy went through the roof because I wasn’t bogged down with all of the bullshit that is in conventional foods. Now when me and my boyfriend do eat non organic for the most part we feel sick afterwards and all we want to do is sleep and be unproductive. if it means that I have to pay more for a better quality product I will. Let’s be real look at any product from each of the different types of farming. The organic stuff always looks better doesn’t it??? Yes because it is a better quality product. Honestly people like this guy is the reason why American society will always be behind the rest of the world. Do you realize how much bull shit goes into conventional foods and has since the 80s?? What do you think the rich eat and why do you think that they survive longer and are healthier? THEY EAT ORGANIC. Wake up America and look around at all of the other countries within the world, do you think that they put half of the chemicals that WE put into our conventional foods…….hell no they don’t. So I’m sorry but if you all want to keep eating conventional foods and drinking that type of kool-aid then by all means do it!
I think it's funny that you describe Whole Foods as "accessible" because the nearest one to my hometown is an hour and 45 min drive away. I know you add disclaimers to your videos about accessibility, but it would be great to see some videos dedicated to those of us who don't live in urban or even suburban areas.
WholeFoods are only accessible in certain higher income zip codes. I don’t live in a fancy neighborhood but at least they have stores near me.
I moved from Southern California to the Black Hills of South Dakota, there are no Whole Foods in my state. The closest one is in Denver, a six hour drive. So, it really isn’t accessible to everyone. When you can’t go, you realize how great it still is.
Levi I LOVE this new channel!! keep it up!
Thank you so much, stay tuned for next week's!!
Great video! Loving the new channel and can’t wait to see what you come out with next
Thanks so much!! Stay tuned for next week's 😉👏
Im really liking the new channel! keep up the great content
Glad you're enjoying it, stay tuned for next week's!
i love your new channel! do you have a podcast? i just realize that I enjoy listening to your voice haha
No podcast just yet, but we'll keep it in mind! Thanks for the support 🔥
Thank you Levi for this video. I do agree that Whole Foods is still a step above your nationwide grocery chain like Kroger. Within all the organic processed foods, if you read the labels carefully, you can see there are still organic foods produced within the spirit of truly organic foods. There are also "organic" foods like "organic" Doritos. You just have to read the labels carefully. For example, try to compare ingredients of tortilla chips from Siete vs Dorito.
I used to shop at Whole Foods a bit more when I lived across the street from one about four years ago. But I shop there less now, especially after the Amazon acquisition. Most of my shopping is done at a grocery store chain local to my state that does highlight local and organic options. I also visit my local zero waste store and the farmer’s market when I have the energy (because I have chronic illnesses that limit being able to stop at a bunch of different places for my food/goods).
Local grocery stores are often the best solution when factoring in the amount of work the consumer has to put in when visiting multiple sites... Thanks for the support! 👍
It’s a shame these smaller zero waste and small farm shops and small chain stores can’t deliver to those who have disability’s!
Would be cool to get an update about how Amazon changed Wholefoods. This video was great
I use to shop at Whole foods a lot but since Amazon bought Whole Foods i find some of the products have changed or been discontinued and now I find myself shopping at other stores more often, It's like you said a lot of organic products that were once only available at Whole Foods is now available at other stores at competitive prices 👍😎
I work at Whole Foods 9yrs and 7months. What a joke Organic Doritos, or Mac dinner. I said I work at Wfm, I didn't say I shop there. I love my local farmers market, Finding them on my days off is a good challenge, in the winter months (Colorado) no such thing. So There is a competitor, Natural Grocers, aka Vitamin Cottage. All their stores are small, (as in sq ft) and they aren't owned by Amazon! I'm begging to think that NG is the next WFM (we love acronyms) Whole Foods was 😎 before Bozo took over (aka Amazon👎🏻🤮) and who is going to care anyway, they don't listen to little people like me, that's at store level.
Got your video, going to share it, make some notes.
Thanks for sharing and won't be purchasing any ORGANIC Doritos any time soon!
Love from Colorado
😎✌🏻🔌🚗👋🏻💜🚲🌳
Thank you, I do shop at a local store Jimbo’s that only sells organic produce, and usually identifies the actual farm vegetables were grown. The canned and processed foods are mostly organic. They don’t stock organic Lays potato chips or Doritos, but organic potato chips, etc. Progress not perfection. Sprouts Market has organic and commercial produce, so I have to be cautious and read labels . I occasionally shop at Ralph’s for organic produce or organic staples. Never at Walmart.
Hey Levi! I like this new channel and I'm glad RUclips recommended it to me. Great video 👍
Hey, thanks so much! We appreciate the support 👏
Just never expected my love for Fast & Furious to meet my love for your videos 😂😂😂 loved it!
Glad you enjoyed!! Thanks for tuning in
Yeah it does shock me how little local produce Whole Foods carries. Like it’s high apple season and yet all the apples are still from CA
The organic label has always seemed too good to be true for me. I live and grew up in the UK and the organic idea was never around. If you wanted more natural produce you'd go to the local farmers market or flower/vegetable stall on the market street. When I became in charge of my own grocery shopping and meal planning I would stick to produce that was the freshest and tastiest of what I could afford, "organic" meant nothing to me. The only time I actively bought organic produce was for my rabbits. As raw herbivores they're more directly exposed to any chemicals used during growing or processing, and for such a small body a tiny amount could effect them more than humans. How, I still don't look for organic but locally produced when I can. In the North West we have a small chain store that focuses on local farmers, fair wages and fresh produce; and it's eye opening compared to the biggest chain supermarkets. Everything just tastes brighter and it's lighter on the wallet.
Organic very much available in the UK now!
Love the feel of these videos.
Thanks so much!
I live in Sweden and in my town (Malmö) we have one zerowaste shop (not as big as yours tho, that would be a dream!) and a service where you each week can get fresh-in-season bags with veggies from local farmers.
If we need anything other than that our local grocery store has a HUGE vegan and ecological/organic section to drewl over...*sooo spoiled*
If I have to choose I opt for local over ecological....but also in some cases ecological over local (the dirty dozen etc).... but as you point out, its hard to get the label organic/ecological, therefore I go for what feels right to me rather than by the label. (In Sweden organic = ecological).
Thanks for a great video.
Hi fellow Malmöit! What are the odds of finding someone from Malmö here? :D I have found that the market om Möllan sometimes have a few stands from Kabbarp and other local growers.
@@Phalaenopsisify Åhå, Hej!
Crazy odds! I should check that out next time the market is open :)
There are some local ranches in my suburb that gets together to sell meat and dairy products three times a week. Pretty nice folks, sadly it’s usually the cost that pushes people away, especially the poor.
You haven't really mentioned any of the negatives about organic food as it requires more land produce a similar volume of food it's actually less environmentally friendly than non-organic in many aspects. When you factor in the cost it's not for everyone unlike regular foods
This is what was bothering me while watching the video. Underlying the whole thing was the axiom that organic is healthier, more sustainable, and “future proof”. I don’t want to say that he’s fundamentally wrong as there are undeniable up sides to the original vision of organic just like he discussed. But those positives are not what modern organic represents yet no one feels the need to re-justify their positive association with the term and I am far from convinced of its merit.
Yeah because pesticides and monocrops are just amazing for the environment and so sustainable. Get a grip..
@@CptAngelKGaming what do you think they grow on organic farms all individual species?
I’ve always said, if you really want to ensure that your food is organic is to grow it yourself.
Whole foods market hasn't grown that much in the UK. They entered the UK in 2004 by taking over a small chain of small organic food shops in London, and added a couple of stores (including their largest in the world, in upmarket Kensington).
But in 2004 there was a significant increase in interest in organic food, leading to a bit of a "land grab" in terms of securing organic fresh food supply from the other major supermarkets, trying to hold onto trade, which I think constrained Whole Foods growth. A friend of mine, who used to be an organic certification inspector for UK Organics scheme, was of the opinion that the "land grab" was partially targeted at Whole Foods. Apparently some of the supermarkets even went as far as to subsidise the 3 year transition process for new organic farms in exchange for exclusive supply for a number of years.
The UK has two organic certification schemes: the older "Soil Association" scheme and the newer, more commercial "UK organics". Both certify to a EU mandated baseline, not sure if either UK scheme certifies more strictly than the EU baseline (although I suspect Soil Association may be stricter, certainly the less commonly seen).
I think the EU baseline is stricter than USDA; I don't think there is cross recognition of standards in either direction.
Personally I do get some organic food, mainly seasonal vegetables/fruit and occasionally a meat order from a weekly home delivered box scheme run by employee owned Riverford (francise delivery people, though), Riverford sources mainly UK (from owned and long term contracted farms) but imports certain items from long term contracted farms in France, Spain to maintain a low Co2 emissions profile (vs. growing in heated greenhouses in the UK), and also contracts for a supply of imported organic bananas.
“Organic” is a meaningless marketing term that is not recognised by government as a food classification or identifier. It’s definition under law is so vague that any food can be defined as organic.
No. It means that the seeds used to grow whatever product do not have genetically modified ingredients in them. It's a big difference. Especially if you know anything about Monsanto and their round up weed killer seeds used to grow everything. If it says organic, it should NOT contain these poisonous components as they're HIGHLY cancerous.
I like your page and the new page, 😉! I work at an organic cooperative here in Pennsylvania. When a farm or a field isn’t certified, we can offer it as Chemical Free or Transitional, not every customer “needs” a certification. We also can use those items for our CSA shares, at times. I shop at Whole Foods, but only if it is not at work, or at a local natural foods store, or honestly if it is a great price. Like you said things are harder in my area for certain foods, local produce is easier and cheaper but most other things are expensive. We also don’t have a store like you guys go to, I’d love to. Do you know if any of the stores you go to are cooperatives? I have been things about that and maybe talk to some folks about that in our area. 😊. Enjoy your day!!
I shop mainly at my local farmers market, co op, and Costco for bulk purchases. I buy organic when possible, but honestly it’s pretty low on my list of priorities. Most of my produce comes from a biodynamic farm, which has standards much more in line with my values, that only recently became certified organic. And when it comes to meat and dairy I’m much more interested in animal welfare certifications or buying local than I am having a USDA organic label on it. I think of it as a nice bonus, and it might make the difference when purchasing something like rice, but local, seasonal, small scale, humane practices mean much more to me.
Buying local/seasonal food is definitely top priority, thank you for taking the time to support the channel!!
I love this channel. Please also make a video on how farmworkers are impacted, not just farmers. Ty!
I had to rematch the video to grasp the pertinent details you mentioned…now I better understand the main mission and goals for whole foods but also wonder about the priorities of the new owner of the Whole Foods chain ( how he might water down the original and ongoing intentions of the company he acquired). Why did they sell to him?
On the bright side I do look for organic, local and sustainably sourced product and preferably little or no plastic as much as possible regardless where I’m able to shop living mainly in 100 Mile House. It’s hard/more time consuming to read labels properly and sometimes I choose to pay or ans buy certain things less frequently but I ultimately feel better about what I’m providing for my family and the health of our planet as climate change makes it more abundantly clear it’s wise to do so….
I've been reading the omnivore's dilemma by michael pollan and he gets into this. Entire chapter on evolution of organic. Even when he wrote it in the mid 2000s it'd seemingly greatly differed from the "organic ideal" that the hippies were going for. There are some independently owned grocery stores but they're kinda far and even more expensive than whole foods. I think one of those produce delivery services like misfits market, imperfect, or hungry harvest may be the way to go. Or do u think maybe frozen is better than fresh? At least w not in season stuff? Also, have you noticed kashi has a certified transitional tag on products where they say it's to show their farmers are transitioning to organic? how do you feel about food companies doing eco friendly intiatives in general? I saw on a cascadian farm box some initiative they're taking. I wonder if they're legit. Many questions. I understand why so many don't care and just eat crap but health is too important to me to not try. Def interested in more content related to this stuff.
Pollan rocks.
Great video!
Great video! So glad to have "Levi 'Save the World' Hildebrand" (v2.0? Original flavor?) back on the air. Keep up the good work.
Definitely v2.0! Thank you so much for the support 🔥👏
You can only have 5 percent of in- organic ingredients and they have to be approved. They include stuff like Citric acid that is in fruit anyway. This movement has helped many ppl not get cancer. It’s not a bad thing.
Can you do a video on recipe box companies (like Hello Fresh and Gousto) to see if their claims of “less food waste” are actually true or if the food waste is just moved from the customer's bin to theirs, etc?
They’ve done a video about hello fresh recently!
I’ve only shopped at Whole Foods a handful of times and since Amazon acquired them I haven’t gone back. Fortunately in Austin, TX the birth place of Whole Foods there are a lot of other great organic/local grocers to shop at. Wheatsville Co-op, Sprouts and Central Market jus to name a few.
Great to hear there's so many alternatives! Thanks for tuning in and supporting what we're doing here 💪
A video about Fairtrade and whether or not it's working in the US would be great here too. In the UK organic has fairly strict settings (I think?) but Fairtrade is supposed to take care of looking after farmers. I don't think it does as well as it should, so if people are relying on those labels to make choices that support farmers, they may be being misled.
Giving major Beme news vibes I LOVEEEE it!!
Amazing video :)
Yes!, a thing about Amazon taking over Whole Foods would be great. Two thumbs up.
“Organic food is better than regular” all I needed to hear to enjoy my organic Doritos in peace 😂
You can get the same organic local fruits and veggies at your local Walmart or target these days and for cheaper than whole foods. There are also lots of other small chains that carry local organic foods, and again at lower prices. Just gotta shop around.
I know it's the start of the channel / they were already recorded / it needs content, but I barely had the time to digest the information from the other video that there's already a new one, don't burn out pls! 💖
Noted! We've been preparing for quite a bit, so our goal is to release every Wednesday. Next week's is a fun one, so stay tuned!! Thanks so much for your support 😜
I remember this story about an organic inspection where the inspector found barrels of pesticides. Farmer said "nah, just use that pesticide on my personal garden". The inspector tried to revoke their certification but since they couldn't prove he *wasn't* holding industrial amounts of pesticide on his small personal garden he wasn't able to
I'd really love a video on Warp + Weft denim!
I love my local farmer's market. Quite often I can get all my produce cheaper there than at the big grocery chains.
And the added bonus that you're supporting farms in your area??? Priceless! Thanks for tuning in !!
Being lactose intolerant, I like whole foods because they have good selection of dairy-free food. Especially adding on the vegan stuff, which is by definition dairy free. It's often times really hard to find that kind of stuff in grocery stores. Specifically dairy-free cooking alternatives.
Damn, this is nuts. Can't believe I played a role in making this happen.
It's become a scam. I worked on a certified organic farm for a couple years back in the mid 90s and there was a lot of inconsistencies with the practices and policies you had to adhere to so we soon gave it up and adopted what you failed to research on - the sustainable CLEAN foods movement and found it more ethical, reasonably affordable and sound than the travesty that the Organic certification had become.
we sometimes rarely shop at whole foods when we can't find something like that elsewhere but love Sprouts they are an organic market smaller than whole foods and i'm pretty sure more ethical
Heard lots of good about Sprouts, might have to look into them! Thanks for sharing + supporting our channel!
We shop at Root Cellar! It is only a 5 minute walk away and they do a great job labeling where their food comes from.
Transparency really is key. Thanks for tuning in!!
We want more videos and onger videos! love your channel!
Yes! Please make a video about Amazon and how detrimental it is for lots of people and businesses
We just might! Thanks for tuning in 👏
I stopped buying at whole foods once they were acquired by Amazon. Instead, I buy produce from my local farmer's market, and any other goods online from Thrive Market or Zero Grocery. If I need something in person, I'll shop at Country Sun Foods, which is a small local supermarket.
Small local supermarkets will always be a better option. Thanks for joining us here + supporting the channel!
Thank you for your videos! Yes, I would like a video about Amazon/Jeff Beso
I used to work for Whole Foods and it used to be fun : I used to go there in my days off and have a couple of beers at the bar there . Right after I I left, WFM was bought by Amazon and it became soulless. I haven’t Ben back ever since .
I'm excited for more if those videos. Pls do the bezos whole food videi
Can do! Thanks for being here and supporting what we're doing!!
I live somewhere where shocker Whole Foods doesn't exit. However, I typically shop at either a small grocery store or through a farmer's market. It just works better because I live fairly close to both and can just walk there
Our geographical location really is the biggest factor in deciding where we shop, huh? Thank you for taking the time to join us here!
I used to drive 1 hr to Austin every weekend to go to the FIRST whole foods...and wanted to invest in them! I just didn't know how...I wish I did though
I worked Whole Foods before the Amazon takeover. It had a lot of issues. But it’s been a bit heartbreaking seeing how things are fun since Amazon became their business daddy.
For example, most stores had their values made up and posted somewhere in the store. Big. Like a banner. Really into “team member happiness.”
After the switch, we noticed that banner was the first thing to go in the store. And some of their product interventions do not align with the previous values, either.
I try really hard not to go in there anymore.
You are talking about the "core values" of WFM. The big sign was BS. The whole system was based on a Japanese business model that uses some form of "team" as the catchphrase for employees. If you really believe that WFM truly followed its own "core values" you are mistaken. I worked for and through them since the early 90s. They cared little about any employee that was not interested in moving up the ladder into management. Bezos and Mackey are not very different. Both are eccentric Billionaires who care more about their stock values than any customers or employees. I will give Mackey praise for shifting the perspective of the entire world on Organics, but as a human, he is an idiot just like Bezos. I could walk through any WFM before Amazon and find products that did not match their core values and can find more now. If you actually interview employees before and after the takeover you will find an equal number of disgruntled persons.
@@oyajiblues i see no falsehoods with your response.
I was treated poorly after an injury claim and basically boxed out despite performance.
It’s funny how different things look once you break from that spell.
I suppose I wanted to think my experiences were more targeted than the norm, but have found out otherwise over the years as others I knew have quit.
My only point before was that the switch to Amazon took the mask off in a lot of ways. And the most glaring one I remember was how fast that sign disappeared.
Didn’t know about the Japanese connection tho, thanks!
@@MoonFairy929 Oh my god, don't get me started on how they treat you if you are injured. Sent me to a doctor who immediately told me, "you are fine" I will recommend light work duty for you for a weak. I could barely walk with a broken rib. .
p.s. I was not challenging your statement. I was just making the point that the WFM before Bezos was not that different. Now, if you had the chance to work for WFM in the early 90s that is a big difference. It was not yet corrupted by the need to satisfy stock holders and the team leaders were proud of what they were selling and worked hard to provide the best quality. Then WFM got so big they decided they needed to be "centralized". It ruined the entire concept. Centralization ruined everything that was great about WFM. Centralization is when they started having huge distribution centers and bought everything in bulk and then distributed it to each store as they saw fit. Destroyed most Team leaders' enthusiasm immediately.
@@oyajiblues you make a great point. I did all those WFM University classes and there seemed to be a real excitement behind what they were trying to do. But i remember thinking all the video content was old.
It’s a shame. Most companies would do better not to get so large. But the corporate rat race and the stock market insists on feeding in constant growth. Things get too big and all quality and uniqueness is lost.
Everyone I still talk to from my WFM days came out with their soul’s crushed one way or another. When we were there though, we wanted to believe WFM was different.
Those green-tinted glasses will get ya!
I’d love an update on this now that Amazon has owned Whole Foods for quite awhile.
Great work here, organic really doesnt mean what people think !
Thanks for tuning in!
Really interesting! I can see why some USAians are sceptical of the organic label, I often buy from our organic label in Sweden, KRAV, which is much better! Not perfect, but better.
Never knew what farmer's market actually meant until now. Ik that's a shame. But, on the more hopeful note, there's a farmer's market that opens every sunday in my neighborhood. I guess I'll check it out this time!
I take part in a weekly CSA. Community Supported Argiculture model. The food is organically farmed and each week i get a half share bag, which is enough for 3 people. For 19$ a week. I like it, but i really only do it because my job gives me a discount for my health insurance premium for taking part.
Best way is to shop locally as much as possible, only going to big stores if needed
I live in Germany and mainly try to buy local produce, less processed and low packed foods. Most supermarkets have started to cater to that demand which is great :) I prefer a non organic apple from my hometown to an organic one from the other side of the world any day ;) Don't trust the Jeff! :P
In Austria that’s the case too! Regional and seasonal. Plus organic (bio) isn’t too expensive here either so it’s pretty accessible.
Thanks for sharing, we also value local over everything else. Thanks for the support!!!
Oh it's Levi
I used to be a Whole Foods customer but noticed a significant decrease in the quality of the produce available and the diversity of products in general after the Amazon acquisition. I now shop at a worker owned co-op
Living in Belgium I don't know that chain but we have our alternatives...
please do the amazon whole foods video sounds very interesting
The only time I buy organic is when the normal version has too many preservatives or unnessecary ingredients. But not everytime is the organic version is better sometimes it's the more expensive. For example, San Marazano tomato's are the only ones at my store without calcium chlorides and citric acids which make it taste gross. Organic products sometimes have better flavor.. I ALWAYS get organic spices, they are more potent and flavorful! this is a must for anyone who cooks.
I really like the fact that you’ve separated the channels but I think it would be nicer to see more of you instead of a lot of stock footage. It makes it feel a little like a powerpoint presentation in this newer style.
i kind of like it though... very informational
Noted! Thanks for sharing + tuning in!! 👍
Damn the fact that they’re literally adding herbicides and call still be deemed organic is crazy to me. So basically organic means nothing? I mean I never bought organic and thought this already but this bolsters my opinion greatly
lesson learned: when i become some form of director of a big company, take whatever movements people are pushing towards, wait for the government to add a label for that movement, barely do the requirements to get that label and kaboom, "0 emission" beef
The struggle with those straws though lol
Have you considered putting your videos on Nebula?
It seems like most labels are lies. I try to buy unprocessed foods and process it myself so I know what went in
Please make that video on Bezos. I’d really love to hear more!
Please do the Whole Foods/ Amazon specific video!!