Characterized by an exceptionally crisp and juicy texture, it is a cross between the Macoun and Honey Gold apple – a result of the University of Minnesota apple breeding program to develop a winter hardy apple. Combining spicy sweetness with a remarkable crunch, its flavor can be maintained for at least six months in refrigerated storage!

We are celebrating this delectable apple throughout our stores this week in Phoenix as we feature Honeycrisp Apple recipes in our Prepared Foods department – just look for the “Made with Honeycrisp Apple” flags. You might even find some Honeycrisp Apple stuffed meat in select meat departments.

We finally invite you to enjoy our “Dippin’ Demo” on Saturday, October 2nd  where we will be sampling out tastes of the juicy Honeycrisp dipped in caramel, chocolate, and other candied apple treats! See your neighborhood store’s event calendar for time and details, or give us a call!

But in the meantime, we searched on the www.wholefoodsmarket.comwebsite for a Honeycrisp Apple recipe to hold us over till then, and we came up with a sweet Raw Apple Crisp recipe that is perfect for any early fall dessert!

Leave a comment with your favorite Honeycrisp Apple recipe or how you will be using apples in your fall recipes, and you are entered to win a LOCAL Vendor Gift Basket! Filled with the best selections from our valued Arizona Local Vendors…and hey, we will throw a few Honeycrisp Apples in there for you too.

First things first- you can buy whatever quantity you need.  Buy only what you need for what you’re cooking and you won’t be stuck with a cabinet full of spice jars that inevitably expire because you don’t use them fast enough.  Only need a couple tablespoons of shredded coconut, only buy a couple tablespoons of shredded coconut! 

Second- Everything in the bulk section comes with minimal packaging and can be stored without the aide of refrigeration.  It’s arguably the greenest, healthiest and most economical place to shop in the store.

Third- It’s a Great Value!  Low priced everyday staples and some uncommon items you can’t find anywhere else. You’ll pay merely pennies for that little bag of nutritional yeast as opposed to dollars for that jar that takes up space in your cabinet.

Lastly, Whole Foods Market has the largest organic bulk selection in the Phoenix valley.  Our Paradise Valley store carries more than 110 organic bulk items!  Grains, dried beans, dried fruits, nuts, flours, trail mixes, candy, cereal, and much more.  So if you’ve never taken a spin down the bulk aisle, I encourage you to give it a try!  It’s budget friendly and environmentally friendly!

Check out these links for some fun bulk info:

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/guides/beans.php

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/guides/grains.php

We didn’t stop there.  Of course we have vanilla ice cream to top your rootbeer!  Stop in for this old fashioned treat made without artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. 

16 oz. Rootbeer- $1.79

24 oz. Rootbeer- $1.99

16 oz. Rootbeer Float- $2.79

24 oz. Rootbeer Float- $2.99

“There is something nostalgic about drinking an ice cold rootbeer fresh off of the tap.” – Karen, Whole Foods Market Customer

I’m looking around thinking “What makes our Whole Foods Market Bakery so great?  What do people not know about the hot pink frosting or the ‘freshly baked’ cookies that have an expiration date for one month later?”  Here it is- we bake daily, using only the freshest ingredients, including cage-free eggs, natural butters and the best quality unbleached, unbromated flour.  We never allow artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives or hydrogenated fats.  Not to mention, we pioneered gluten-free baking, with a bakehouse dedicated exclusively to the creation of an ever-growing number of gluten-free products, from sandwich bread and pizza crust to cookies and extraordinary desserts. 

Check the ingredients of some of the products you have at home, some you can’t pronouce or never heard of?  Don’t worry, when you come in to shop, we have an extensive list of unacceptable ingredients that our WFM Quality Standards team maintains.  You will never see these ingredients in any of our prodcuts.  http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/unacceptable-ingredients.php

Next time you need a loaf of bread or a birthday cake, consider what’s actually in it.  Every time you make a purchase, you vote with your dollar.  You’re either saying yes, keep the artificial colors and preservatives coming or no, I value my health and don’t want to eat that junk.

Go green when you enjoy your next beer.  Buying local beer means you support local producers, you reduce environmental impact, and you know where your beer comes from!

Mark your calendar and make sure you are here on July 20th from 5:00-6:30 to sample a variety of our local beers. 

http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/paradisevalley/calendar/

What are your Father’s Day plans?  Let Dad take the day off of the grill!  It might be a fight, but ensure him that the reigns will be in good hands.   When you start with fresh, delicious products- it’s easy.  You can do this, you can grill amazing burgers!

First, let’s talk about the meat.  Give Dad the best.  Our meat is free of added growth hormones, antibiotics, carbon monoxide, and preservatives.  And we don’t stop there… the animals are fed a vegetarian diet (no animal bi-products), farms are audited by third parties for food safety, and the farmers care about the animals they are raising. 

So what kind of burger guy is Dad?  A classic burger lover or does he love to try new things?  We’ve got lots of everything you need to grill Dad a great meal in his honor.  Sauces, seasonings, cheese, veggies, and well the list is as long as you want it to be.

Not up for combining the ingredients, we have lots of pre-made burgers, made fresh everyday:  turkey & blue cheese, the cowboy burger, jalapeño cheddar, bison burgers, and lots more.

Now all you need are the buns, toppings, and some of Dad’s favorite sides–maybe potato salad, pasta salad, green salad, or grilled veggies. 

Check out some of our favorite burger recipes:

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/1652

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/1640

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/1641

Whole Foods Market Paradise Valley would like to assure all the grill masters out there that we’re stocked with nothing but the highest quality and healthiest ingredients that will make your mouth water, your stomach full, your grill sizzle, and your patio-side audience absolutely amazed.

Recently, I was given a sample of Devita sunscreen.  I have to admit, I was reluctant to try it as everything makes my face break-out.  I spent the majority of last weekend outside, burn free.  And no break-outs!  This got me thinking about all of our body care products for the summer.  The list is endless: suncreen, chapstick, natural tanner, bug spray, sunglasses, deodorant, sun soother…

You’re thinking, “What’s the big deal, I can get that stuff at any grocery store?”  No.  You can’t.  This is where our Whole Body is different.  It’s all about quality and safety with a strong emphasis on natural.   Our high standards are applied to all of our body care products. We encourage our vendor partners to use plant-based and naturally-derived ingredients, pure essential oil fragrances, gentle preservatives and non-petroleum ingredients. And, we do not allow any animal testing for any of our personal care products, ever.

Here is what I found after talking to a few team members and doing my own research:  our sunblock is chemical free, fragrance free, and great for sensitive skin; bug repellent that contains no harsh chemicals like DEET or paraben;  sunless tanner that is natural looking, streak free and has no artificial colors;  our deodorants are safe powerful formulas that are free of aluminum and alcohol;  after sun soothers that are packed with ingredients that help neutralize free radical sun damage, not just cover it up.

Do what’s best for your body!  Choose natural products that are safe for you and safe for the environment.

Cherries have a very short growing season, only being availible for about 2.5 months of the year.  It’s so important to eat in season, eating the crops at their peak, getting the most out of the nutrients they provide.  Did you know that cherries are exceptionally high in antioxidants?  Eat up!

There’s nothing like eating cherries straight from the bowl, but if you would like to get adventurous try a couple of these recipes:

Cherry-Cucumber Coolers

Stovetop Chicken Cutlets with Fresh Cherry Salsa

Cherry Vanilla Pudding

Our first crop just arrived.  Our Produce Team Member Jerry told me ”you have to try a cherry, they’re still a bit tart, but delicious.”  I sampled the cherries this morning so I could give you an accurate description.  Here it goes:  sweet, tart, juicy, crisp, perfect.  Just like I remember!