Whole Foods/Wild Oats

[sunsurfos]

What is the local perception of the Whole Foods/Wild Oats?

I read a little info on here about a new organic meat store "Harvard Meats" is it close to Whole Foods?

Thanks for any opinions.

[joiei]

Whole foods has definitely improved the selections at Wild Oats.

It is about 5 miles between 41st and Peoria and 11th and Harvard.  Tulsa is easy to get around in, it is laid out on a N-S. E-W grid system.  When I moved here, I drove the city streets to learn them and it didn't take long.

[cannon_fodder]

I enjoy going there for select items or a change of pace.  Their cereal/dried selection is really good for a healthy alternative to snack food.  Their bulk spices (including whole pepper and sea salt) are very affordable.  And they have some interesting products, exotic produce, and hard to find items throughout.

BUT, for my every day shopping needs the prices are more than I am willing to pay.  I understand that in many cases the quality is (supposed to be) higher or for the produce the organic farming is just more expensive.  But it is usually not worth the price difference for me.

I live ~2.5 miles away and my little family probably goes once or twice (during the summer when snacks for the sail boat are in order) a month.  BUT, whenever I am there it's packed.
- - -

The organic meat store is probably NOT direct competition for whole goods.  It is a small operation with a very local feel to it.  I'm sure it siphons a little business from several places, including Whole Foods - but the impact on the bottom line is negligible.   It does more damage to the Reasor's (local chain) and Walmart Neighborhood Market than anything else I'm sure.

[buzz words]

The owner of Harvard Meats "Duke" once managed a portion of the Wild Oats store.

[sgrizzle]

I like going to Whole Paycheck, just not often.

[nannat]

I like whole foods for some grocrey items.  I find them to be a little expensive.  I do my main meat and vegetable purchases with Natural Farms. 420 S. Utica

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by sunsurfos

What is the local perception of the Whole Foods/Wild Oats?

My opinion of Whole Foods/Wild Oats as a lifetime/50 year resident of Tulsa, is that they just play off the "organic" fad as an excuse to charge premium prices.  Save your money and shop at Reasors or other local groceries.

You can never be absolutely sure of "organic" unless you grow your own fruits & vegetables.  Local farmer's markets are a great source for fresh produce, and I would patronize these years before I would ever step foot in Whole Foods.  I have never been in Whole Foods/Wild Oats, and I never will be.

[joiei]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by sunsurfos

What is the local perception of the Whole Foods/Wild Oats?

My opinion of Whole Foods/Wild Oats as a lifetime/50 year resident of Tulsa, is that they just play off the "organic" fad as an excuse to charge premium prices.  Save your money and shop at Reasors or other local groceries.

You can never be absolutely sure of "organic" unless you grow your own fruits & vegetables.  Local farmer's markets are a great source for fresh produce, and I would patronize these years before I would ever step foot in Whole Foods.  I have never been in Whole Foods/Wild Oats, and I never will be.

If you have never stepped foot in a Whole Food/Wild Oats then how can you make an educated informed judgement.  I would encourage you to think about your position.  I do shop at both the farmers markets and at the Wild Oats.  Neither one is able to fulfill my complete needs, so I use both plus other local markets.  If I refuse to see what is available then I have no right to complain about their service to the community.  

"free your mind and the rest will follow, be colorblind, dont be so shallow"

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by joiei

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by sunsurfos

What is the local perception of the Whole Foods/Wild Oats?

My opinion of Whole Foods/Wild Oats as a lifetime/50 year resident of Tulsa, is that they just play off the "organic" fad as an excuse to charge premium prices.  Save your money and shop at Reasors or other local groceries.

You can never be absolutely sure of "organic" unless you grow your own fruits & vegetables.  Local farmer's markets are a great source for fresh produce, and I would patronize these years before I would ever step foot in Whole Foods.  I have never been in Whole Foods/Wild Oats, and I never will be.

If you have never stepped foot in a Whole Food/Wild Oats then how can you make an educated informed judgement.

Because I have seen their advertisements/prices/products and choose not to patronize them.  From what I have seen from their adverts, it really proves the old adage, that "there is a sucker born every minute."

If you have an unlimited pocketbook and WF/WO has a particular product you want, then go for it.  For general grocery shopping, stick to the local mass marketers, with coupons and sales brochure in hand.

[joiei]

Passing judgement with no real knowledge.  Your loss.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by joiei

Passing judgement with no real knowledge.  Your loss.

We will have to just agree to disagree on this one.  You prefer to pour your money down a rat hole; I do not.

[TheArtist]

What I get a kick out of is when you read the labels on things like cerial, or just about anything sweet, they try to make it sound healthier by calling sugar by another name like...dehydrated cane juice, crystalized cane juice, sucrose crystals (apparently crystals are "in" with the natury crowd), there were several others that I can't remember right off. But I got quite a laugh out of their creativity. It was all still sugar, but it was like no product wanted to state that it had sugar in it lol.

[Conan71]

Wild Oats has a few things that you won't find at Reasor's.  Food Pyramid, at least the one at 51st & Harvard, has pretty good organic/whole, ethnic, and kosher sections has a lot of the same things I find at WO, usually for less.

I'll agree with Steve there is some price-jacking with organic, just because it's organic.  But I'll also agree with others there's a quality difference with organic foods.

I have to admit to have been a skeptic for a long time about organic meats and produce.  After finally caving in, I gotta agree, there's no comparison.  Organic has better flavor and seems to be juicier as far as meat.  I'm a more recent convert to being a "food snob" and I don't necessarily seek out all organic, but I definitely can tell a difference in many of the products.  Will it reverse 42 years of all sorts of abuse?  Doubt it, but at least I feel better about myself when I eat better.