NC Agfest ends today!!

by raleigh, May 31, 2009 | Permalink

Hopefully you already know about the NCagfest that has been going on this weekend at the fairgrounds! In case you haven’t you still have until 10pm today!

This is a great celebration of all things North Carolina. We are so lucky to live in such a diverse area with so many natural and agricultural treasures. There will be many local food producers out there, including many whose products reside on the shelves of your Raleigh Whole Foods Market. It is really an amazing thing to be able to meet them and hear about their passion for bringing their products to you.

There are also a good number of NC wine producers at the fairgrounds today, just waiting to give you a sample of their homegrown labors of love. There is something for everyone out there with free parking and admission, so be sure to come help celebrate our state’s producers!

Also, from 12-8 today, there are lawnmower races (this does cost $5 a person, but I am sure is well worth it!). I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon!!

Check out everything and download a map or schedule here: http://www.ncagfest.com/

See you there!

The Summer Madness continues

by raleigh, May 31, 2009 | Permalink

Make sure that you stop by Meat and Seafood to see the great deals that they have this week. In Meat, their St. Louis Pork Ribs are on sale for only $2.99 a pound! Pick up a few pounds of these summertime favorites, marinate them overnight, and throw them on the grill for the highlight of a really easy and super affordable meal.

In Seafood, I am really excited about the Wild Caught Jumbo Snow Crab Clusters that are on sale for only $5.99 a pound. The sweet flavor of fresh steamed crab is so mouth watering, I can almost taste the melted butter at this moment. Mmmm…… Be sure to check out the other great sales that they have going on. Fish is so nutritious and delicious, and there are always great flyers on the counter for new ideas for preparation. Be sure to utilize the knowledge and passion of the awesome Team Members behind the counter, too. They love to eat fish and seafood and have a plethora of great ideas about how to prepare it.

Over in Specialty, there is an awesome deal on New Zealand Cheddar right now….only $2.99 a pound! More than 50% off!! Be sure to pick up a few pounds of this versatile cheese while it is at such a low price.

More great deals to come! The weather is just starting to warm up, and who knows what will happen in the weeks to come!

New Whole Deal booklets coming next week

by raleigh, May 29, 2009 | Permalink

That’s right, a brand spankin’ new edition of the Whole Deal is coming your way next week. It seems like every issue has been better than the last, so I am really eager to see what fantastic deals and bargain shopping ideas are contained within its pages.

While you are at the store this week, be sure to pick up a couple of extra copies of the current edition. The coupons are good until the end of June, so you can still use them for another month!

Stay tuned for all the juicy details…..

Summer Madness Sale!

by raleigh, May 28, 2009 | Permalink

What is it about the warmer weather that makes people a little mad?

When you walk into the store be sure to pick up the weekly sales flyer, especially this week. There are some truly spectacular deals that are going on in every department. I can’t possibly go through all of them and gush over all of them (which I honestly would if I thought you might read this blog for the next 45 minutes), but I will share a few of my favorites.

Produce has seedless watermelons on sale for $2.99 (saving you $2). They are so deeply red and juicy, you might think it was already July.

Prepared Foods is a great stop year-round for quick meal ideas and side dishes to-go, and they have their popular homestyle coleslaw on sale for 99 cents a pound right now! They also have some yummy crab cakes on sale for $3.99 each (save $1), and the combination of the slaw and the warmed crabcake on a tosted bun is irresistable.

In the Bakery, check out the hearth breads that are on sale for 2/$5 (have them slice a few loaves and freeze them), and their mini cupcakes (in either vanilla or chocolate) are Buy One, Get One Free! $4.99 for two 12 packs. They are a great size for snacking and kids of all ages love them.

Also in the Bakery they are offering apple, cherry, harvest berry, and peach 8-inch pies for only $3.99. These are baked to golden perfection right there behind the counter and oh-so-delicious. Can you choose just one flavor?

And what could be better with a fresh baked pie? Vanilla ice cream, anyone?! 365 Ice Cream is also Buy One, Get One Free! You can pick up the Vanilla to go with your pie or you can choose from other flavors like Rocky Road or Mint Chocolate Chip. Pick up a few for that pool party later this summer!

More madness to come!!!!!

Last minute additions

by raleigh, May 24, 2009 | Permalink

Still need a few things for that perfect get-together? Here are some more of my favorite deals this week that are perfect for a party!

-Cedar’s Hummus (and other assorted party-friendly goodies like stuffed grape leaves and tabouli) are all Buy one, Get one free. Find them in the cooler facing the meat department.

-Izze Sparling Juices are on sale for 2 (4-packs) for $8. These are a refreshing, tasty, and non-alcoholic drinks that are just awesome at a party! Check out the pomegranate, clementine, grapefruit, and blueberry flavors. You will love them!

-Assorted flavors of Kettle Chips are on sale, including New York Cheddar, Buffalo Bleu, Tuscan Three Cheese, and the new irresistable Sweet Onion flavor. They are on sale for 2/$4 and make a great adddition to any grill out.

-In the Dairy section, look for the Mexicana Gold fresh salsas, which are also Buy one, Get one free. They have a variety of flavors, including Salsa Verde, Pineapple Mango, Garlic and Artichoke, and Roasted Garlic. You could get really creative with these great salsas, or just serve them up with some crispy tortilla chips.

Let’s hope the rain holds out long enough to get the grill going! However you are celebrating, I hope it is a great one!

Meat & Seafood!

by raleigh, May 22, 2009 | Permalink

Making your list for this weekend’s barbeque? Come see what’s going on in Meat and Seafood right now and you won’t have any trouble filling up that grill!

First stop, the friendly Seafood team. One of their flier items this week is wild mahi-mahi, for only $7.99 a pound (saving $5 a pound!). There are also some absolutely beautiful huge shrimp that are on sale and featured prominently in the center of the seafood case. They look fantastic and would be stunning right off the grill. They are on sale for $9.99 and $10.99 a pound, saving you $3-4 a pound. You’ll want to see these for yourself! Gorgeous!

Keep walking around that corner and you’ll find the Meat team, stocking their case and ready to help you find the perfect selection. They have a lot on sale, including a bounty of kabobs. There are as many almost a dozen different varieties of them, with the beef kabobs on sale for $6.99 a pound and the chicken kabobs on sale for $5.99 a pound. The Meat team has already done all the work: cutting and skewering the onions, peppers, and meat and slathering it up with a tasty marinade. What could be easier?

Also in the Meat department, all their different varieties of burgers are on sale. There are so many to choose from and all are only $4.99 a pound. There are plenty of flavors available, including the old fashioned lamb burger, bacon cheddar burger, and the beef blue cheese burger. And making it even sweeter, the hamburger (and hot dog) buns in the bakery are on sale for $2.99 an 8-pack.

Trying to keep it simple this Memorial Day? They’ve already done the work for you, just stop in and let them know what you are looking for!

Get ready to grill!!

by raleigh, May 20, 2009 | Permalink

There are some fantastic deals going on right now in the store in honor of Memorial Day!

Let’s start with the charcoal. I don’t know about you, but when I grill I like the flavor of my foods to be accentuated by the fire but not leave a chemical undertone. The 365 Natural charcoal is my absolute favorite and honestly I won’t use anything else for grilling! It is made from 100% hardwood that is recovered from the flooring and furniture industries. It lights easily, and burns hotter and cleaner than conventional briquettes.The smoky flavor of the 365 charcoal adds rich and clean flavor to your foods! Pick up an 8 pound bag for only $4.99 right now. Actually, I’d pick up a few to last you through the summer!

There is a good chance that whatever you are interested in throwing on the grill is on sale right now. Strolling the aisles, there are sales popping up everywhere and they are especially dramatic in the meat and seafood departments.

Be sure to check out what’s going on in Produce, too. Any good grill-out always incorporates fresh items from the field, and there is plenty on sale here, as well. Check out the plump yellow or white corn on the cob, eight ears for $2! Vidalia onions for 79 cents a pound! And what better to go with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream but fresh, plump, red cherries that are on sale for $4.99 a pound?

Many more deals to come in the days ahead…start planning your grill party now!

Checked out the Bakery case lately?

by raleigh, May 18, 2009 | Permalink

Have you ever checked out the cake case in front of the Bakery? I mean, really checked it out?

I could get lost in there, from the intricate swirls that hug the cakes to the sugary flowers that come bursting out from the tops to the accents that really capture the flavor of the season. The cake decorators that reside in the Raleigh bakery are second to none. I’ve never seen cakes so beautiful, and they are always getting more creative!

I don’t know if you have ever checked out the prices on the cakes, but if you ever want to have a cake for a party, special occasion, or any day that ends in Y, you might want to give some thought to picking one up here. There is a list of all the cakes that you can order at the Bakery counter, and any Bakery Team Member can help you pick out the perfect one for you. They will be happy to personalize it with whatever you want written on it. For the amazing cake creation that you are getting, you can not beat the price. Just give them 48 hours notice.

Next time you are in the store, take some time to check out that Bakery case. Give yourself a few minutes so that you can really immerse yourself in its beauty. Sometimes it can be easy to slip right by it on your way to get that cup of coffee or grab that loaf of bread… but if you do, you are missing out on one of the most beautiful spots in the store.

Grilling Season!

by raleigh, May 15, 2009 | Permalink

Sure, there are many of us that don’t feel bound to the traditional definition of a season when it comes to grilling. A nicely grilled, hot treat from the grill can be as satisfying in the middle of winter as it is in the heat of summer.

Of course, grilling during winter can have its drawbacks. Friends may be less likely to spend time out around the grill, enjoying that smoky smell and anticipating the succulent flavor.

But, never fear! Summer is virtually here!! As you walk into the store right now, you are greeted by a towering display of all things grill. Bags of natural charcoal tower over bottles of ketchup and mustard. Crunchy chips beckon and pickles beg to be bought. Fresh hotdog and hamburger buns from our Bakehouse tempt you, as you dream of everything that could be stacked inside.

I suppose if you are a grilling purist, Memorial Day weekend may be the official start date for the grilling season. But with beautiful days like this, who can wait?

Whole Deal Steals

by raleigh, May 13, 2009 | Permalink

There are two new deals that are unbeatable that started with the sales today. Grab your Whole Deal and get to shopping!

The first great deal is on Annie’s Naturals salad dressings. They have added 16oz bottles to their line and you will find the following flavors on the shelf: Shiitake and Sesame (which also works as a great marinade), Raspberry Vinaigrette, Cowgirl Ranch, Italian, Honey Mustard, Gingerly Vinaigrette, and the always popular Goddess dressing. These are normally priced at $5.99, but are on sale for $4.39, a great discount! Add to that the $1 off coupon from the Whole Deal and you will walk out of the store with 16oz of Annie’s all natural goodness for $3.39. That can’t be beat!

The scond great deal is on Tasty Bite pilafs. These are located on the shelf near the rice mixes and are packaged just like their other entrees. They are shelf stable, packaged in the same manner as NASA meals- in sealed pouches that stay fresh until you are ready to heat and eat! There are four flavors to choose from: Multigrain, Mexican Fiesta, Pesto, and Tandoori. These are great to have on hand to complete a meal fast! They are normally priced at $3.99 a box, and are on sale for $2.39-$3.39. Grab the 50 cent coupon from the Whole Deal and stack up that discount!