i love whole foods, but they only put stores in cities where 75% or more of the people have Bacchoelers degrees. that is no way to promote organic and sustainable living.

Well you start with the people that can understand your mission and work your way down. I live on the edge of civilized society and trust me explaining to people you want organic is a baffling thing for them to understand. They just keep pointing you the vegetable aisle when you ask about organic things. It's a cultural thing that is just going to have to be overcome, cut them a break.

75% or more of Minneapolis has a degree?

I don't shop there myself, but in Whole Foods' defense, I'll say that the only members of my own extended family who would ever shop at Whole Foods are those with bachelor's degrees. So they're wise not to build a store where my less educated kinfolk live.

Taylor, I think it's a business decision. My parents are from an economically-depressed ruralish area, and came to visit me in Washington. They went to Whole Foods and were astonished at how much everything costs in relation to Wal-Mart. I doubt them or their friends would shop there were it in their city.

That said, kudos to Whole Foods for biodiesel. Now when they get to B100....

They built one in Pittsburgh, and put it near the most affluent neighborhood in the city, which is also close to several college campuses.
They are probably still struggling a bit, because most people there are accustomed to driving to the burbs to shop at big box stores.

About the biodiesel, I wonder if they'll do it in their home state, Texas?

Also, I heard Germany-based ALDI's is actually the largest 'green grocer'. They are much bigger than WF, and I've heard they are a major supplier of organics in Europe. I know that's definitely not the case in the US, but they own WF's biggest US competitor, Trader Joes.

I can see how these groceries start at an area with 75% of the pop. with bachelors degrees. I have to drive a bit to get to any organic shopping store. And Emil, I do see how this happens, personally, I hate Wal-Mart, and won't shop there, but how do you convince someone not to? It's just going to get worse, I heard on NPR today about cloning food animals, and people really want the U.S. to buy into these ideas. I'm done, going to get out of it, do my own thing.

Re: Whole Foods in Pittsburgh.

They're far from struggling -- the Whole Foods here broke store records for first-week opening sales, and popular belief (I can't find a reference) is that Pittsburgh was one of WF's fastest growing markets over the last few years. I do know from personal experience that the store is packed every time I go there. If they're not making a killing, something's wrong. They've actually put enough fear in the local non-organic supermarket chain that the chain bought a huge billboard right next to WF's parking lot to advertise their organic produce section...

Pittsburgh is funky like that - there's a huge, and somewhat under-served market of affluent, educated east coasters with a fairly strong environmentalist bent mixed in with a huge, more blue collar population with a more midwestern feel. (I specifically mention affluent because as much as I love WF's food, it's anything but cheap!) In all, Pittsburgh was a very good expansion move for Whole Foods.

The expression "work your way down" used by Jamison in regards to people who may not "understand" the Whole Foods "mission" is a poor choice of words. Exhibiting a patronizing attitude invites those you're supposedly trying to persuade to distrust and dismiss your message. People interested in green issues have got to get off their high horses or we simply will not be effective.

I don't believe it's necessary for Jamison to have to censor his words, especially on a message board like this. Each of us delivers and disseminates, hopefully intelligent, discussion with the knowledge that we're not up on a podium attempting to run for Congress.

His message got through. None of us need to be told to censor ourselves, flower our sentences and tiptoe through conversations because the truth hurts. These debates are possible because thankfully most aren't like you, S.

Glad to see a company that is headed in the renewable energy direction. We need more action by individuals and corporations. My wife is an avid Wholefooder here in Ann Arbor Michigan, I hope she will be able to find one near where we are moving (Ocean Springs Mississippi).

The reason for the bach degrees, fundamentally, is income. Those with college degrees, on average, will earn $1.6M more than a high school only degree over the course of a lifetime. Whole Foods, while green, organic, etc. is also damn expensive per unit vs. the typical grocery store. WFs need to locate in areas with exceptionally high income because they keep only high-end inventories.

I spend a lot of time in a rural area, but live in a major metro with a Whole Foods. We routinely spend over $100 every time we go to WF (family of five). By contrast, while shopping in the other area, I once heard a couple arguing with a store manager about the lack of whole chickens in the butcher's aisle. Cutting them up "added to the price", which the couple felt was already too expensive per pound. They felt processed chicken was just a way to "gouge" the consumer. Total price of the cut-up chicken in question? $4.

What do you think that couple would say if the only option was "free-range, organic, anti-biotic free" chicken at yet again twice the price?!

Kudos on Bio-diesel. Moves like this will really help expand the market.

In regards to the comment made by Kip, well if all one wants to do is preach to the choir, then by all means engage in divisive discourse. If one is interested in being persuasive then showing respect is important. Oddly you claim a debate is possible w/o the participation of someone with my point of view. That's a contradiction. A debate is by nature airing of different points of view. Taking responsibility for the tone of our comments shouldn't hinder our ability to be expressive but instead strengthens our effectiveness.

S, you hit the nail on my point. i knew the reasons for the placement of whole foods stores, i just didnt believe they were good enough. quite a percent of the population is lower or lower middle-class. do they not also deserve access to organic or healthy food? isn't the expansion of this lifestyle what all green folks are after? i think these people are not given enough credit on in the fact that they CAN be educated regarding organic foods and natural living, its just not many people or companies have attempted to yet, perhaps for the same reason: the root of all evil.

I have to respond to the "only locating in cities with high levels of bachelor's degrees" comment. One example that jumps to mind in contrast to this is New Orleans where they have had one more Whole Foods for a while now. The percentage of college-educated folks there is way below 80-something. Of course if you want to get to the issue of who actually shops there, that's a different story. They aren't called whole paycheck for nothing, but I also have always found the quality of their food to be outstanding and that is part of the higher pricing. As a side note, the Whole Foods in New Orleans is already offering delivery service and hopefully will be back open soon.

I have no respect for someone who places saving $$ above eating healthy. WAL-MART exists because people don't care. There will never be a Whole Foods in Prattville, Alabama. If people don't want to be talked down to they should make an effort not to destroy themselves. In the Northwest even the fast food chains are switching to free range meats and organic vegitables. I am sure that more educated people would chose Seattle or Portland than Montgomery or Mobile.

Could you be any more judgemental and patronzing VR? To be proud of your lack of respect for those less fortunate only reveals ignorance and contempt. No one but cronies will ever listen to anything you have to say as long as you defend self-righteous.