Whole Foods vs. Trader Joe’s

Slate has an article on the “dark side” of Whole Foods and an insider’s guide to Trader Joe’s for New Yorkers who are apparently about to get their first store (can it really be that Philly is ahead of the curve for once?).

The article on Whole Foods makes the point that buying organic and buying local can, and frequently do, come into contact. Leaving aside the question of the health and/or environmental value of organic produce, taste-wise you’re almost always better off buying local. Not that I think there’s necessarily any extraordinary virtue in buying local on principle, but it sure makes a difference when it comes to produce.

Personally I almost never shop at Whole Foods, but shop at Trader Joe’s often. This despite the fact that the byzantine Pennsylvania liquor laws prevent us from getting access to the two buck Chuck and other delights that are available at the TJ’s in more civilized states like California or Indiana. Whole Foods always strikes me as almost insufferably smug (not to mention pricey) compared to the atmosphere of wacky friendliness I find at TJ’s. Of course, we do our main shopping at the local big grocery chain; TJ’s is more for supplemental goodies.