Who's your favourite organic grocer?

[cgymike]

Just trying to get an idea of which store you may go to if at all...locally I like PCC Markets. Prices are better than Trader Joe's and Whole Foods at least.

 

[rareboy]

Wherever I shop, I buy organic. And I don't look at prices so I wouldn't even be able to compare. Unless we go into Toronto, we don't have access to Whole Foods and I wasn't honestly all that wowed by FreshCo.

 

[ronboy]

Wegmans has an organic department that, if you are an organic shopper, is quite complete. The department is self contained with its own refrigerator and freezer cases, well-organized aisles of grocery and organic health and beauty aids. In the produce department they have an extensive area of organic fruits and vegetables.
I've been to Trader Joe's (we have one in Rochester), and I'll still take Wegmans, hands down! (but then, I am not an organic shopper).

 

[palbert]

Hannaford, a Northeast chain, related to Food Lion.

I only buy organic when it is the main/prominent ingredient, e.g., romaine for a Caesar salad.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

dude counter wot Real Doll was so maybe why shop a busy a folk wanna buy stuff up is only time organic shop wen look fa sumthang forgat
* COOOR *
he a was organic defo cause not stiff cheese

thankyou

 

[darden]

organic isn't much more than a marketing scam in the US because it's so loosely regulated.

if I want to be environmentally friendly, I'll go to local farmer's markets and make sure that they're actually legit (a lot of farmer's markets just have people buying groceries from the same distributors as the chain stores, and reselling it at a mark-up)

otherwise, I just go to my local chain grocery store.

 

[MoufOfKhaos]

I don't buy into the organic hype, and now that I'm finding out that it's not even regulated, I have even LESS reason to try it.

The only thing I'd be willing to try again, is a farmer's market. Otherwise, I'd rather not waste the money.

 

[vulgar_newcomer]

organic isn't much more than a marketing scam in the US because it's so loosely regulated.

I tend to agree, but it works in upscale markets for people with money to blow. I understand trying to cut out processed foods and stay with natural product where ever possible but you simply are not going to have much of a yield with living agriculture without the use of chemicals and pesticides. Think about this after the normal high level of spoilage for all agricultural products in the first place. For instance this year farmers are having a awful time with all the heavy rain in the southeast. Lots of crops are ruined and you can bet failure to use fungicides will take it all out. At the same time the insect pest are loving the humid very wet summer and eating the watermelons farmer Fred in Cordele Georgia is trying to save so he can pay his rent.
Also how organic is the water quality that living things are taking in to live? Well water, potable chemically treated city water, spring water.
If I raise chickens I can agree not load them up with growth hormones and false feed but no way will I agree not to give them chemical or man made maintenance vet medications or routine treatments to aid in suppression of disease, pest and loss.
Then you have transport. That same reefer truck that was hauling 50 gallon drums of hazmat waste 2 days ago got a simple wash out with a water hose and then took on a floor load of organic yellow squash & peppers to Trader Joes distribution point. Bagged in plastic (petro chemical leeching) or on the floor bare.

Outside of very small gardens organic gardening (local food stands or farmers markets) cannot work and as proven by advances in agriculture not responsible for a thriving huge human population.

 

[eastofeden]

Our local 99 cent only store (West Coast Chain) has organic produce and I get peppers and tomatoes from them for 99 cents...otherwise I go to Trader Joes or Staff of Life and even Safeway. I dislike Whole Foods.

 

[nycguydowntown]

In NYC I like Whole Foods but only the one in Tribeca--beautiful super clean store. Upstate --famers markets and Hannefords is okay.

 

[cgymike]

dude counter wot Real Doll was so maybe why shop a busy a folk wanna buy stuff up is only time organic shop wen look fa sumthang forgat
* COOOR *
he a was organic defo cause not stiff cheese

thankyou

Coors is not organic beer!

 

[bendted]

Whole Foods. It's very affordable to buy organic if you stay away from the prepared foods section.

 

[ibill1]

I can never find organic Velveeta anywhere

Exactly, I've been searching for organic crunchy cheetos and not one to be found. Organic is a rip and overpriced for something you don't even know you are getting.

 

[cgymike]

I tend to agree, but it works in upscale markets for people with money to blow. I understand trying to cut out processed foods and stay with natural product where ever possible but you simply are not going to have much of a yield with living agriculture without the use of chemicals and pesticides. Think about this after the normal high level of spoilage for all agricultural products in the first place. For instance this year farmers are having a awful time with all the heavy rain in the southeast. Lots of crops are ruined and you can bet failure to use fungicides will take it all out. At the same time the insect pest are loving the humid very wet summer and eating the watermelons farmer Fred in Cordele Georgia is trying to save so he can pay his rent.
Also how organic is the water quality that living things are taking in to live? Well water, potable chemically treated city water, spring water.
If I raise chickens I can agree not load them up with growth hormones and false feed but no way will I agree not to give them chemical or man made maintenance vet medications or routine treatments to aid in suppression of disease, pest and loss.
Then you have transport. That same reefer truck that was hauling 50 gallon drums of hazmat waste 2 days ago got a simple wash out with a water hose and then took on a floor load of organic yellow squash & peppers to Trader Joes distribution point. Bagged in plastic (petro chemical leeching) or on the floor bare.

Outside of very small gardens organic gardening (local food stands or farmers markets) cannot work and as proven by advances in agriculture not responsible for a thriving huge human population.

What you said made at least some sense until the hazmat stuff. Now come on...FDA would not allow hazardous waste and food together. They may not be looking out for our health but there are some standards. But the challenge is out for you to back up what you say with specific links to stories about Trader Joe's distribution point. Otherwise I smell hidden agenda BS.

 

[bankside]

Other:


Old Strathcona Farmers' Market.

 

[zoltanspawn]

One of my buddies grows a beautiful year-round garden with lots of non-gmo, herbicide/pesticide-free stuff. I love getting gifts from her because everything comes with the special glow of her caring. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Some of my favorite 'organic' treats from her last year: home-grown sheep sausage, purple home-ground polenta and pimientos de padron.

2nd place: farmer's market.

3rd place if I can stomach the expense, waste and vibe: New Seasons Markets.

I won't go to a Whole Foods, yeccchhhhh.

 

[JayHawk]

Other... I get my stuff from local farms, like roadside booths on the actual farms and the market next to my building which brings together foods from many farmers in the area.

Otherwise I look for specific items from each of those stores that are around here....

 

[umjreon88]

I don't really care about organic products...

 

[frankfrank]

Whole Foods, but only because I'm living in an "organic food desert" (well, kind of) and I have scant experience with other providers such as Trader Joe's, "The Outpost" in Milwaukee (or Shorewood?) WI, food co-ops hundreds of miles from here, etc.

I say "kind of" a desert because Hy-Vee (supermarket) is now making more than a half-hearted effort to provide organic groceries in a special section, but it's still not as good as the "typical" food co-op, for example. (No known food co-ops within at least 65 miles of here.)

 

[bankside]

Why do we hate Whole Foods? I hear they have one in Vancouver and it seems popular enough.