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Whole Paycheck, consider yourself on notice.

Sunday, July 26, 2009 Leave a Comment

Dear Whole Foods,


Hey, how are you guys doing? How's the economy treating you with the recession and everything? I for one am hoping that there are enough of us who are afraid we will poison our kids if we feed them anything other than Veggie Booty, organic strawberries and Bell & Evans Chicken nuggets to keep you guys afloat during these trying times.

Anyway, just wanted to give you a heads up on something. Recently, while shopping at my local Whole Foods, I came across some organic almond butter. Now, I don't normally eat almond butter, but I'm trying to get my husband to eat healthier so that I don't have to worry about our Whole Foods bill giving him a heart attack, and I thought he might enjoy it. There was no price posted, but really, how much is a jar of almond butter--even organic almond butter--going to cost? Five dollars? Maybe six? Seven?

Anywho, I grabbed the almond butter, threw a few other things in the cart, plied the baby with one of those delicious pre-packaged Belgian waffle pieces that I would NEVER buy for myself but am happy to supply to my screaming child as long as she can share, and made my way to the register. There, I had the groceries, reusable shopping bags, sticky baby, oversized purse and of course the waffle to contend with, so perhaps it was my fault I didn't notice the almond butter making it's way past the electric scanner. No problem, right?

Right. Until I got home and happened to glance at the receipt.

Now. Let me just say this. Are you f*ing kidding me?!?!? Nobody, I repeat, NOBODY, expects peanut butter, almond butter, buttered butter, diamond butter, whatever--to cost $19.99 a jar. Come. On. People! Just...come ON!

Look, I'm doing my part here. I have learned to accept paying $8 for a small container of mostly good strawberries and blueberries, half of which will end up on the floor of your store when my daughter insists on feeding them to herself while we shop. I now know that even in the middle of summer, sometimes one must pay $10 for a watermelon. And that if one wants to eat a fish whose deliciousness has brought it dangerously close to extinction, one must be prepared to pay $23.99 a pound for it. But I'm calling bullshit on the almond butter.

Whole Foods, you know I love you. With your miso dressing samples, your cranberry pecan cous-cous and your two-bite brownies. But really. Why even bother selling $19.99 almond butter? Who is buying it on purpose? Nobody. The only people buying that are other distracted mothers, and trust me, they're pissed too.

Okay, okay--don't worry. I will continue to make my regularly scheduled Whole Foods shopping excursions. You know that nobody does organic free range fair trade wild sustainable local kosher heirloom quite the way you do. But just know I've got my eye on you and your almond butter.

Thanks, and best regards,
Robyn






 

5 comments »

  • Amy Fuchs said:  

    I'm so embarrassed to admit this, but yes, I have bought $20 almond butter on purpose! My dtr, tried it ONCE and I was so excited she was eating something other than string cheese that I bought the first jar I could find (not at Whole Foods). But at another high priced, organic grocery which shall remain nameless!! Anyway, when I brought it home she refused to eat it...it is still sitting in my fridge....many, many weeks later!!

    July 29, 2009 at 11:04 PM
  • Anonymous said:  

    I just don't understand you younger folks.I raised my kids on plain old Waldbaums food. My mother raised us on old-fashioned plain old grocery store products. We watched our pennies and none of our kids were overweight. Maybe we were healthier because we spent more time outdoors, less time watching TV and didn't eat organic foods.
    Maybe a better idea is to spend less money at Whole Foods and more on enjoying life.
    Here in Florida, we shop at Costco -- watermelon is $3.00 for a whole watermelon, fish is $4.99 a pound and just bought a two pound container of blueberries for $4.99.
    Now,thats how we can afford to travel Europe and Asia!!!
    Robyn - keep up the very interesting stories. You make my day. I am very proud of you!!!
    Love
    Anonymous

    July 30, 2009 at 7:15 AM
  • Anonymous said:  

    Go to "Trader Joe's" for a lot of the same stuff, in fact most of the times they get products from the same source as Whole Foods. I know it's not as pretty as Whole Food's but they do have all natural organic Almond Butter which is no way that much there.

    July 30, 2009 at 10:46 AM
  • Kiely said:  

    I love your blog, Robyn! I love your stories!

    Just out of curiosity - how tasty was that almond butter?!?

    July 31, 2009 at 7:04 PM
  • eileen michaels said:  

    almost peed laughing so hard you are one witty writer robyn sorry no caps or punctuation but im nursing lol

    September 26, 2009 at 10:04 PM

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