I think it’s way too easy to say big equals bad. Not that anyone’s ragging on Whole Foods Market, but can little mom and pop stores do this?
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/06/09/whole-foods-loans
The credit crunch may affect banks’ ability to loan money, and the glut of milk products is sending dairy cows to slaughter, but neither of those things have affected Neal Gottlieb, founder and partial owner of Three Twins Organic Ice Cream, based in San Rafael, California. Gottlieb said in a telephone interview that he is building a new factory in a space leased from Cowgirl Creamery, an organic cheese maker in Point Reyes Station, Calif.
As one recipient of the Whole Foods Market Local Producer Loan Program, he received $25,000 in December 2008. The funds will go toward construction costs for the new factory, which once completed, will help the company widen their customer base by making the ice cream more affordable, he said.
Even though $25,000 may not seem like a large amount of money in the grander scheme of things, Gottlieb said, “the value of being in line with Whole Foods is beneficial in the long term.” With the backing from the natural grocery store chain, the ice cream makers have been able to raise additional capital. Three Twins has since been able to secure a line of credit from Sonoma Bank of San Rafael to expand their business.
You have to make money to make a difference in this country, is all I’m saying.
Sure they make money. Sure they make a difference. But that difference is damage, my friend. To local economies, ethical labor practices and small farm/small organic producers. I love the line in this post: “the value of being in line with Whole Foods.” Speaks volumes. Why “in line,” how bout “in bed,” “in lock step.” That’s what WF is intending. Corporatize food producers. The walmartizaton of organics and the local food economy. Swallow the small guys up–turn them into big guys indebted to their empire–reap the rewards of their own constructed and controllable supply network while more small guys disappear due to unfair monopolistic competition practices. And don’t get me started on labor practices. Okay, I’ll start… I personally witnessed Whole Foods managers in a local food cooperative market recruiting coop staff (on the floor during their shifts) to work in their new store (the first at time) located a mile away. That’s cold. Stone cold.
Yo! you must have drunk some sour homogenized, dude. Wake up.
Whole Foods has a buyer in various regions called a “forager.” That person is tasked with finding local farmers and food producers who are producing at a level that Whole Foods can actually use. So WFM is very committed to local. Plus their low-interest farmer loans speaks of a long-term commitment to local farmers. Equal Exchange, who sponsors this site, does the same thing. When they do it, it’s called “fair trade.”
I don’t have anything against small, independent stores, but co-ops don’t think or act nationally, and they don’t buy in sufficient volume to make an impact for local farmers nationally. It’s the big grocery chains that are going to push the ball forward. You want a Michael Pollan Nation? Shop at Whole Foods.
Sigh.
Also, note to self: don’t forget to hit PREVIEW *then* SAVE after writing a comment.