During the past 25 years, Americans and other people have become more interested in better nutrition involving organic and similar food products. A unique type of supermarket chain, called Whole Foods, was founded in 1980 in Austin Texas as one small store specializing in natural and organic foods. Since then, the company has grown to nearly 200 stores situated throughout North America, as well as in the UK.
The concept of this chain, in which customers find the highest quality produce, much of it certified as organic or locally grown and produced, is to ensure the consumer that the food products and other natural items found in these stores are as free as possible from pesticides, administered antibiotics, and other growth stimulants often found in commercially processed foods.
Though not all foods in these stores are 100% organic, many of them are and are offered in surroundings that are designed to please even the most discriminating natural foods purchaser. The quality of food items offered by the Whole Foods company is very high; and although both organic and non-organic products are offered in these stores, the main attribute to them is that customers have complete freedom of choice in the products they purchase. Packaged Organic products usually bear the label of the National Organic Program, including labels like 100% Organic, Organic 95%, and Made with Organic (at least 70% organic ingredients).
The ‘whole foods’ idea is not limited only to food products but also to helping make our planet a better place to live in by being involved in activities an public service projects that are beneficial to preserving the environment. The company is actively involved in all areas of organic farming as well as local and national activities which are geared toward helping the environment. These activities include being active in community activities to help clean up pollution and make people more aware of these issues.
Offering consumers the widest possible variety of top quality food products, as well as vitamins and other food supplements the Whole Foods marketing concept is to prove it’s customers with the best quality products possible. Whether that be cheese and other dairy products, meat and poultry free of antibiotics and growth hormones, or top quality fresh vegetables, you can find them at Whole Foods.
Walking into any Whole Foods supermarket, one finds a virtual “garden of earthly delights”, as samples of many items are offered for free tasting, especially fruits and vegetables. This also includes a rich variety of sauces, and other foods products often not found in regular supermarkets. Of course, some products such as “junk foods” ( potato chips and other snack foods, carbonated beverages, and the like ).
The old saying, “you are what you eat” is an excellent way of describing the message that Whole Foods and other similar companies and organizations are trying to convey to the environmental conscious consumer public.