I too am a fan of WF. As a foodie who has medical issues that can be treated with a strict diet, I find WF very convenient. I buy food from markets featuring fresh locally grown produce when I can, and from standard big supermarkets when I must. Whole Foods covers the rest pretty well. (I live close to 3 of them. Bristol Farms and Trader Joe’s and a few specialty local markets, bakers, and delis can help too. For example, Bristol Farms stocks prime dry-aged ribeye steaks which are hard for me to get without driving some distance.)
As for the Whole Paycheck problem, well, by eating healthily I save enough on medical care to support all my daily food extravagances. Health care costs a lot more than food. Anyway, as a foodie I don’t really care what the food costs, as long as it’s what I want.
I understand that some people don’t differentiate food by flavor or freshness or healthfulness or convenience, just quantity and price. Whole Foods doesn’t work if those are your food criteria. Everyone is different. My observation is that more and more people are becoming educated about the health and flavor of foods, and WF does a good job, albeit not perfect, of catering to many of their needs.
