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Counting Down the Days and Giving Thanks
by cary, November 20, 2009 | Permalink
We are almost there! The final countdown to Thanksgiving is upon us. All mom’s old recipes are being pulled out, the family table cloth washed and placed on the table, and our hearts are ready to give thanks.
We have an impressive array of holiday dishes that are sure to please everyone at your table. Whether you want someone else to do all the work or are just looking to add some extra flavorful flair to your spread, we can help. From stuffing to squash casserole, cranberry apple conserve to turkey gravy, appetizers to pies, we’ve got you covered. As always, we have our fresh turkeys from Koch Farms in the Meat department and these are always a sure hit! Popular for years, many families look forward to our turkeys every year as the main attraction of the Thanksgiving Day feast.
Don’t want to deal with cooking or the mess at all? Stop by our store on Thanksgiving day (we are open from 7am to 2pm) where our always delicious hot bar will be stocked full of all your holiday favorites. We’ll take care of all the cooking and cleaning, and even take a dollar off per pound from the normal hotbar price! What could be better than that?
Are you looking for an extra home made side dish to round out your table? One of the easiest (and tastiest!) ways to serve vegetables is to simply roast them. Pick up whatever looks good to you over in Produce- broccoli, green beans, brussels sprouts, even unpeeled whole carrots (the skin will crisp up!)- toss with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper and throw into the oven at 350 degrees until they are slightly tender. Everyone will think you worked a lot harder than you really did!
Make sure to take some time this week to say thanks- to all those that you love and all that matters to you.
Autumn!
by cary, September 18, 2009 | Permalink
Every season in North Carolina provides different opportunities for embracing all that our area has to offer. The season of autumn in particular has distinct flavors (and colors) that we can all appreciate.
Join us this Friday from 4-7 p.m. as we kick off this season with our Fall Apple Fest and Local Celebration. We will be hosting several local producers and sampling this year’s crop of local apples and some of the endless ways in which to enjoy them. Local farmer Mike Slaton will be providing some excellent music for the night and copies of the Feed the Farm: Homegrown Music for the Soil will also be available for sale. Mike is one of many artists who offered his music for the benefit CD that raises money to help North Carolina farmers in crisis.
Fall crops are filling our shelves these days! From the big and bountiful local mums that greet you in front of the store and throughout our produce department, you will find the freshest arrivals that will remind you how lucky we are to live in this area. Check out the local apple cider from Hendersonville (on sale for 2 intensely satisfying half gallons for $5) or the local Gala apples from Taylorsville, NC (only $1.79 a pound). You can also check out several regional varieties of apples from Georgia (including Jonagold, Granny Smith, and Red Delicious) to satisfy all your apple needs. With the sun going down just a little earlier every night, you might find yourself in the kitchen a little earlier with just enough time to make some homemade applesauce. Aah, the taste of fall!
Another wonderful annual tradition for this time of year is the Carolina Farm Stewardship (CFSA) Farm Tour which is happening this weekend. This popular event is the perfect way for you and your family to experience a local farm, meet local farmers, and get a first-hand look at what is growing out in the fields right now. You can visit farms that produce all sorts of local treasures such as flowers, wool, vegetables, herbs, cattle, trees, pigs, fruit, mushrooms, cotton, eggs, soap, and bees! There are 20 farms on the tour and you can pick and choose which farms you want to visit. You can pick up your button (which allows you to visit as many farms as you would like both Saturday and Sunday) at all local Whole Foods Markets, at any of the farms on the tour, or through the CFSA website. New farms are added every year making this a tradition for many local families and individuals who take this opportunity to get out and see where it all happens! We promise that you will leave the tour inspired by all the local love and dedication that is happening all around us and eager to stay connected.
Fall Means Tailgating!
by cary, September 13, 2009 | Permalink
We have been treated to a few nice cool days this week and it is hard to not start to happily anticipate the colorful days of autumn that lie just ahead. The long sunny days of backyard barbeques and pool parties may be over for another year, but we have so much to look forward to in the season that lies before us.
One of the most anticipated events of the fall season is the return of football! Whether you celebrate at home or bring the fun to the tailgate, this is a great opportunity to enjoy some traditional football fare. We have everything you need to create a tasty and memorable experience for you and all your pigskin loving friends. Every team in the store is focused on helping you get the best seasonal favorites and you will find easy suggestions everywhere to help create the event that you’ve been looking forward to since the playoffs last year. Be sure to take advantage of our Prepared Foods Team where the shelves stocked with their ready-to-go picks so you can focus on the game. Their classic potato salad and home-style coleslaw are also on sale this week! Look for our Win a Tailgating Party display and enter for a chance to win all the food for a Tailgate Party plus a $100 Whole Foods Market Gift Card. This contest will run through the end of September.
Another important day that is quickly approaching is the holiday of Rosh Hashanah. We will be having an apple and honey tasting next Wednesday, September 16, to sample a variety of fall harvest apples and local honey. As Rosh Hashanah celebrates and welcomes the Jewish New Year, it is a popular tradition to celebrate with apples dipped in honey symbolizing the desire for a sweet New Year. Come join us for this tasting next Wednesday from 11 am to 3 pm.
Still holding on to the long days of summer? You can still find colorful heirloom tomatoes that are just screaming summertime on sale in Produce right now. These luscious and beautiful tomatoes will only be around for a few more weeks- pick up a few while you still can.
New Premium Body Care!
by cary, September 2, 2009 | Permalink
Anyone that has tried our 365 Everyday Value line of products knows that they are the real deal: premium products and a not-so-premium price. You’ll find everything you want behind this product, and nothing that you don’t want- like hydrogenated oils, artificial colors or sweeteners, preservatives and more.
The same holds true for our body care items. Since we have quality standards for all the 365 Everyday Value food items that we carry, we also have Premium Body Care Quality Standards which set some body care items above the rest. Our experts spent years taking our quality standards even further and developing new standards to which a product could be evaluated that truly brings it to new heights. These are standards that matter most to us and we are proud to be able to offer them to you. As we learn more about the highest safety and most responsible sources of these products, we keep setting the bar higher.
The qualities that a product must meet to be considered a Premium Body Care item are results (we need effective products that offer the most benefits), the source (keeping the ingredient as close to its natural state as possible), environmental impact (choosing the most responsible source for the ingredient and ensuring that its manufacturing and eventual trip down the drain will have little impact on the environment), and safety (making sure that every ingredient is safe for use on the body). There are over 300 ingredients that we won’t allow in these products that are contained in many conventional body care items!
You will find many item that fit this strict criteria labeled with the Premium Body Care symbol in our Whole Body department and new items are being added all the time! One of the most exciting is the new 365 Everyday Value Body Care line! You may be familiar with the line of shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and shower gels that have been a staple on our shelves for several years. They have always been affordable and effective- and they smell great too! Our Whole Body experts recently made the commitment to hold our brand to the highest possible standard and they reformulated the 365 Everyday Value body care product line so that it now meets all the criteria to be labeled Premium Body Care. The best part of this reformulation? The price remains the same! The big 32 ounce bottles are only $4.99, and the 16 ounce bottles are only $2.99. You will still find your favorite smells- lavender, herbal mint, grapefruit, and unscented- but they are richer than you might remember the previous line.
You’ll find these new items (and so much more) in our newly remodeled Whole Body department in the center of our store! We’ve made it easier to find what you need and, as always, can help you find anything you are looking for. Just ask! Also, stay tuned for details of our Healthy Living Fair on October 17th. We want to celebrate our new look with a Whole Body party- details forthcoming on our store calendar.
Quick Meals for Busy School Nights
by cary, August 20, 2009 | Permalink
One of the toughest parts of going back to school can be trying to re-establish the smooth routine that keeps us all happy and nourished. Throwing together a real meal can make all the difference and can be done very easily by keeping some of your favorite staples handy and throwing in whatever else you have on hand. We’ve all got our standbys, but here are some of mine:
Baked Macaroni and Cheese: Grab a bag of 365 pasta out of the pantry, throw cooked pasta together with some milk, a few beaten eggs, a little black pepper (or whatever spices you so desire) and whatever cheese you have on hand and bake. Some of my favorite batches of this mac ‘n cheese have been created by a blend of three or four cheeses that were left over from other dishes! If you want to add some protein, chopped leftover rotisserie chicken is a great addition. For a spicy kick try some chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
Make your own salad night: Did you know that we have the best priced bagged salads in town? Check them out in Produce, where you will find our own organic salad greens, bagged and ready to go for only $1.99! Whether your family enjoys a baby spinach salad, fresh herb salad, Italian salad, mixed baby greens, or a romaine salad, you will find what you are looking for. Round up anything that you have on hand that would make a good salad…canned beans, marinated artichoke hearts, cubed cheese, diced summer squash, leftover roasted chicken, a couple of boiled eggs, croutons made from the end of several loaves of bread, or anything else that your family might enjoy. Make the most of those bits and pieces that were left over from previous meals!
Pizza! You can find ready-made pizza dough on sale for $1.99 right now, enough to make 2 pizzas! Whether your family craves something traditional like cheese or pepperoni, don’t be afraid to mix it up a little and try something new like spinach, fresh tomatoes, feta, and a few select olives from the olive bar. Dinner is done in a flash, and for much less than delivery.
Grilled cheese and soup: Check out the soup aisle, where some of my favorite pantry staples are located. The roasted red pepper and tomato soup from Pacific foods is mouth watering and something that I always have on hand. We have a wide selection of delicious soups to choose from and these make a great (and super quick) dinner idea. Make a quick grilled cheese to go on the side (my favorite is on 365 wheat bread with thinly sliced smoked mozzarella and mammoth cheddar cheeses, a smear of honey mustard, and a slice of fresh tomato) and dinner is done.
Quick Stir Fry: Take some of those peppers, green beans, carrots, broccoli or whatever is lingering in your produce drawer and create a quick stir fry. Start the rice before you start chopping, and everything will be ready at the same time! I like to keep bags of frozen 365 Everyday Value organic broccoli and the vegetable stir fry blends on hand to help speed things along.
After a meal well done (and a harmonious day in the books), it can be a perfect time to sit back and relax with a glass of wine. Through August 23, all cases of wine (mix and match!) are 20% off! This is a great time to pick up a few extra bottles of your favorite shiraz, pinot grigio, or merlot. We only do this a couple of times a year, so be sure to take advantage of this great deal!
Got any other favorite school-night meals? Let us know! We can all use some inspiration to keep the meal mojo running!
Summer Madness Sale
by cary, July 17, 2009 | Permalink
It’s about this time of the year that the heat can sometimes make people go, well, a little crazy. When it happens in our store, it is best to take advantage, because it means we’ve got some great things on sale!
As soon as you walk into the store, you can’t miss the towering mound of bright, plump, red cherries beckoning you to bite. They are at an unbelievable price right now- only $1.99 a pound. Just think of what you could do with all those cherries! I’m pitting some and freezing them so that I can remember that sweet taste of summer even when the weather turns cooler.
Do you like ice cream? What about Ben and Jerry’s ice cream? How about Ben and Jerry’s for only $1.50 a pint? It doesn’t get any sweeter than that! Right now, all their ice cream is buy-one-get-one-free, plus there is a $1 off two pints coupon in the Whole Deal. This is a treat that you can easily stock up on, that is unless you can’t resist that Chunky Monkey in the middle of the night and eat your whole stockpile in a week.
The Bakery has their organic sandwich bread buy-one-get-one-free in either white or wheat, giving you two loaves of fresh bread for only $3.49. Use it to make grilled cheese or peanut butter and banana sandwiches, two classic and fast summer favorites!
Looking for ways to cool down, but don’t want to buy the neon colored ice pops that many of us grew up with? Check out the Cool Fruits freeze pops, sure to please kids of any age, for just $1.50 right now. We guarantee you won’t find any artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners in our ice pops. They will cool you down and bring you back to the sweet carefree days of summer.
Looking for something quick and easy to throw on the grill? Check out our wild caught jumbo shrimp, on sale for $7.99 a pound. You save five dollars a pound and will love these big white shrimp, especially if you marinate them and throw them on a hot grill. What could be easier?
If you are looking for a way to cool off this weekend, don’t forget about our Localvore Celebration, featuring a sundae bar! Come cool off with your custom made sundae while helping us raise money for Feed the Farm, the local non-profit that works to support our great North Carolina farmers. We’ll also have music from Mike Slaton, a farmer and musician featured on Feed the Farm’s Homegrown Music for the Soil CD available exclusively at North Carolina Whole Foods Markets. See you there!
Feed the Farm That Feeds You
by cary, July 12, 2009 | Permalink
Check out our Community Spotlight this month where we are spotlighting Feed the Farm, whose mission is to raise money for small family farms in North Carolina who are in crisis.
Besides direct monetary assistance, Feed the Farm also works to connect farmers to existing resources in order to help them through a crisis or to prevent one in the future. The life of a farmer can be very challenging. Sometimes the weather comes in and wipes out an entire crop, leaving the farmer with no source of income. An illness or accident on the farm can prevent work from being done. An early crop can overwhelm a single farmer and can be lost if they are not provided with support. Feed the Farm works to support the farmers in their times of need and help them bridge the gap that can help them save their farms and keep their families intact.
The organization works not only to support the farmers, but also to connect people to those who grow their food. North Carolina is lucky to have an abundance of amazing farmers, yet many people have never stepped foot on a farm or met the people that work day in and out to provide food for us. Connecting people to farms is an important part of the local food system and can play an integral role in eating locally and seasonally.
Feed the Farm’s biggest fundraising venture to date is a really amazing CD (available exclusively at Whole Foods Market in North Carolina during the month of July) entitled Feed the Farm: Homegrown Music for the Soil. It is only $9 and features some incredible homegrown North Carolina artists including Tift Merritt, Chatham County Line, Southern Culture on the Skids, Carolina Chocolate Drops, farmer Mike Slaton, and many more! All of the proceeds from the sale of the CD benefit Feed the Farm. Be sure to pick up your copy today!
Also, come out to our Ice Cream Social and Local Celebration Saturday, July 18th from 12 noon to 3 pm, where Feed the Farm will be helping scoop ice cream! The cost is only $3 and the proceeds go to Feed the Farm. You can make your own super delicious sundae while meeting some of our favorite local vendors and hearing music from Mike Slaton himself. What better way to celebrate summer with a cool sundae? Hope to see you there!
Happy 4th of July!
by cary, July 2, 2009 | Permalink
Are you looking for some inspiration or ideas for your get-togethers this weekend? We have everything that you could need to create a memorable Fourth of July!
As you enter the store, you can’t miss the blueberries. Just coming into season, these local treats are popular with everyone. Whether you are using them to make the stars on your flag cake, throwing them into a big bowl of ice cream, or just eating them straight out of the package, you can’t beat the two pounds for only $5.99. If you prefer to indulge in organic blueberries, of course we have those, too! $3.49 will get you a pint of sweet summer berries from Cottle’s farm or for what we’ve heard is truly the cream of the crop, check out the Georgia blueberries from Byne farm. We found a perfect recipe for a goat cheese and berry salad that really highlights the great taste of these bite sized treats!
In the mood to grill? Baby back ribs are on sale in the Meat department for only $4.99 a pound! Starting Friday, there will also be fresh beef, pork, or bison hot dogs available for $4.99 a pound. Intrigued? You should be! With fresh hot dog and hamburger buns on sale for $2.99, you can’t go wrong with any of the tasty dogs or the fantastic burgers that are already pattied and ready to go. How about some fresh brats from Thompson Farms in Dixie Georgia? Beer and cheddar, Vidalia onion, spicy or sweet, there is a brat for everyone. If you prefer something from the sea check out our wild salmon burgers, a real treat and so simple to prepare from the Seafood case. You’ll find these in teriyaki, caribbean barbeque, and lemon herb. Be sure to throw some of the fresh Vidalia onions on that hot grill, too, on sale for only 79¢ a pound! Fresh sweet corn would also be a perfect compliment, and right now you will find either white or yellow ears on sale for 6 for $2.
Our Prepared Foods department makes it easy to round the whole event out, with side dishes to keep everyone happy. The grilled corn and Vidalia onion salad is on sale for $4.99 a pound and is overflowing with vibrant summer colors and flavors. We also have fresh coleslaw, potato salad (look for a coupon in the Whole Deal to save a dollar a pound!), and several pasta salads.
Looking for a wine or two to compliment all this great food? Stop by wine department, where there are wines that pair up with anything that you may be serving. Have questions about what would be best? Don’t be shy! The Team Members will be happy to help you find that perfect match. Our annual Top 10 Wines of Summer are also featured at some unbeatable prices.
If you’re heading out to the celebration at Koka Booth or some other outdoor venue? We’ve got a couple of wines that are perfect for the glass-free celebration. Check out the French Rabbit or organic Yellow and Blue wines, available in ascpetic packages that are very picnic friendly. No corkscrew required!
We’ve also got all the supllies to “green” your red, white and blue holiday! We have compostable and natural plates from both Reborn and also Terraware. We even have corn based cutlery so you can compost your utensils after you eat!
Lastly, don’t forget your sunscreen! We have a great variety from Jason and Alba Botanicals at prices and scents to keep everybody happy (and not burned!).
Have a Happy Independence Day!!
Everything is Peachy-keen!
by cary, June 25, 2009 | Permalink
Summertime is in the air!
Just walking into the store right now, you can tell that the season of nature’s bounty is upon us. Local strawberries are bursting with their berry goodness. Local zucchini and yellow squash are brightly calling as you approach. Local tomatoes of different shapes, sizes, and hues are practically begging you to slice them up and enjoy that sweet taste of summer.
For a great deal, check out the sweet Georgia and South Carolina peaches that are on sale for 99 cents a pound! These are a perfect summer treat whether you dish them up with yogurt and drizzle with honey, grill them with some brown sugar and top with ice cream, or even freeze to use in smoothies all summer long….this is a great time to load up on this perfect summer food!
For a real treat (and a real good time!) be sure to come by the store this Friday night (June 26th) for our Peach Party! The peach pie eating contest begins at 5:30, and whether you want to participate or just watch this festive celebration of this beloved fuzzy fruit, a good time is sure to be had by all. You’ll also find a plethora of peach centered foods and drink to sample throughout the store. Also, to kick off the pie eating contest we will reveal the winning Peach Poem, a tribute to this yummy summer fruit submitted by one of our Twitter followers.
Hope to see you there!
Release Your Inner (Peach) Poet for a $50 WFM Gift Card
by cary, June 20, 2009 | Permalink
We’re celebrating peach season with a Peach Party so we want to hear all your Peach Poetry! Submit your poems on Twitter @wfm_cary in 140 characters or less. Be it a haiku or a Muhammad Ali- style quip, we want to hear you sharing the peach love. The lucky wordsmith will win a $50 Whole Foods Market Gift Card, a peach pie and an invitation to recite your poem during our Peach Party before the Peach Pie Eating Contest. Deadline to enter is Thursday, June 25th at 5 p.m.
