We ♥ Earth Month!

by bethesda, April 22, 2009 | Permalink

We think Earth Day is great. Really great!  In fact, we think it’s so great that we celebrate our Earth Day everyday.  Some of the ways we celebrate are BIG–like composting.  We compost everything we can from food scraps to paper coffee cups.  And some of the ways we celebrate are small–like shutting our computers down each night.

In April we highlight easy ways to “green” your life.   30 ways in 30 days (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/earthmonth/index.php) is a cool brochure–printed on recycled brochures that shows you how simple changes can lead to a big difference for our planet.  So this month we’ve had product swaps.  Customers have brought in their paper and plastic bags and swapped them for reusable bags.  They’ve also brought in conventional cleaners and swapped them for All-Natural Sun & Earth All-Purpose cleaner.  And they’ve even brought in their one use water bottles and swapped them for a Whole Foods Market BPA FREE multi-use water bottle.  From all-natural cleaning product swaps to a 5% Day to benefit Potomac Conservancy (on April 29^th) we’re working really hard to do our part.

Thanks to our awesome non-profit partners in the community, we don’t have to do it alone!  On April 21^st, 4 of the areas best examples of how to walk the walk when it comes to being green joined us for a Non-Profit Green Fair. 

Audubon Naturalist Society is a one of the areas most recognized and respected organizations.  Since 1897, ANS’s mission has been to foster stewardship of the region’s environment by educating citizens about the natural world, promoting conservation of biodiversity and protecting wildlife habitat.  One of their premiere events is the Audubon Nature fair on May 3rd from 11am to 5pm at Woodend Nature Sanctuary.

Bethesda Green is one of the areas youngest non-profits.  In spite of their age, they have already done so much to help green Bethesda.  This organization is committed to reducing the community’s environmental footprint, attracting environmentally-conscious consumers, and promoting an environmental ethic.  When Whole Foods Market Bethesda kicks off its Nickels for Non-Profits event on May 1^st, Bethesda Green will be a featured recipient.

Bethesda Transportation Solutions is based in downtown Bethesda and provide free resources to commuters and employers looking for “another way” to get to work.  Whole Foods Market Bethesda has been partnering with BTS for several years on Bike to Work Day, a regional event with a pit stop at Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues.  This year’s event will take place on May 15^th from 6:30-8:30 am.

Calleva is a local summer camp and so much more.  This organization’s mission is to get people outdoors and to responsibly educate them in the outdoors.  Calleva caters to the youth through its summer camps and school programs and adults through corporate and instruction programs.  They also have a really terrifying Haunted Forest in the fall that shouldn’t be missed! 

How lucky are we?  So, we’ll keep doing our part.  And they’ll keep doing their part.  We’d love to know some of the ways you are living a little more green.   Also, check out photos of the Green Fair on our Flickr! 

-Bethesda

Knock! Knock!

by bethesda, April 10, 2009 | Permalink

…ORANGE you glad I didn’t say banana?  Ok, all joking aside, this post is about all of the ORANGE signs you see around our store.  Did you know that we use these signs to call out sales (Hot Deals!, Great Buys, More of the Good Stuff for Less, Value Dots, Weekend Hot Deals! and more)?

So what does all of this mean?

Hot Deal! These are weekly lists of approximately 10 items that we want to call to your attention.  They are deeply discounted and sale items, but not just any items.  These are products we think you’ll really enjoy!  (Insider’s Tip: New lists come out each Wednesday)

Great Buys  Great buys usually, but not always, call our national brands that you can find at other retailers.  Because we are committed to offering you low prices on national brands, these signs highlight our lower prices.  We monitor these prices often to be sure that we are passing on the best deals to you!

More of the Good Stuff for Less We’re always looking for ways to save you money.  One part of this program is our 10% case discount.  If you buy a case of anything (yogurt, water, nutrition bars, cereal, frozen pizza, diapers…ANYTHING) you receive 10% off of that product.  This is a great way to stock up on things your family loves and save money too.

Value Dots

Weekend Hot Deals!  In addition to our weekly Hot Deals!, each weekend we call out items from our MEAT, SEAFOOD and PRODUCE departments that have been dramatically reduced to save you money.  These deals run from Friday through Sunday and are a great way to kick-off your weekend. 

So, next time you’re shopping, shop ORANGE and save!

White Oak Pastures joins the Whole Foods Market Bethesda family!

by bethesda, April 8, 2009 | Permalink

The Bethesda store was all a buzz last Saturday when Will Harris of White Oak Pastures of Bluffton, Georgia stopped in to share his grass-fed beef with customers and team members.  Will is a 4th generation farmer–a tradition that will be proudly carried on by the 5th generation, his three daughters.

Whole Foods Market partnered with White Oak Pastures through the Local Producer Loan Program making it possible to provide the freshest domestic grass-fed beef from farm to store for our customers.  If you were lucky enough to meet Will last week and sample some of his delicious beef, you know what we’re talking about.

White Oak Pastures grass-fed beef is delivered weekly and is available in limited supply.  We typically receive a variety of cuts of beef on Fridays and it’s gone before the weekend is over!  Whether you’re new to grass-fed beef or you’re looking for a domestic alternative, stop in today and check out grass-fed  beef from White Oak Pastures!

Check out pictures of Will’s visit as well as other great events here at WFM Bethesda: http://www.flickr.com/photos/whole_foods/tags/BET/

Be Beautiful! Be Green!

by bethesda, April 7, 2009 | Permalink

On Wednesday, April 8th from 3-6 p.m. our Whole Body Department will host the first ever Be Beautiful! Be Green! event.  This event will feature 3 of our favorite cosmetic and body care lines: Perfect Organics, Sensuous Beauty and Derma E.  Author Edward Allan Faine will also be on hand to discuss the impact of our beauty routines on the environment.  Stop in and check out easy ways to green your routine!

Come for the food, stay for the BLOG!

by bethesda, April 2, 2009 | Permalink

That’ s right…we’re blogging!  About what you ask?  Well, we’ve got great food, so we’ll blog about that.  And we have great Team Members, so we’ll blog about them.  And our sales are great too, so we’ll DEFINITELY be blogging about the sales!

Check back often!  -WFM Bethesda