Favorite Foodie Quotes
One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. ~Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story
Whole Foods CEO: Healthy food is affordable necessity
Time flies when you’re running one of the world’s most profitable grocery chains. Whole Foods, the organic and natural foods supermarket trendsetter, turns 30 on Sept. 20.
It has been widely imitated in style and concept. Its pricing has garnered it the pop culture nickname “Whole Paycheck.” The relatively tiny chain, which has 300 units in 38 states, has had a cultural impact more akin to that of Starbucks, which has more than 11,000 U.S. locations.
Yet, last year, in one of its most challenging years ever, Whole Foods (WFMI) still posted sales of $8 billion. It is about to roll out three much-watched health and wellness programs at stores in the next year. USA TODAY marketing reporter Bruce Horovitz talks with co-founder, cosmic thinker and conservative hippie John Mackey, 57, about his company’s past three decades and the next. The interview is edited for length and clarity.
Some books to nibble on
If you have already chewed up M.F.K. Fisher, Elizabeth David and Wendell Berry, and perhaps Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential, try food politics with Michael Pollan’s noble works. Try The One Straw Revolution: an Introduction to Natural Farming by Masanobu Fokouka. I also love Oishinbo, one of the seven-volume Japanese manga recently released in the US. Written by Tetsu Karinya and illustrated by Akira Hanasaki, Oshinbo (“the Gourmet”) it chronicles the adventures of young Shiro Yamaoka as he eats his way across Japan to create “The Ultimate Menu” .
Turkey shoot
When I was a girl, in rural Virginia, I was always upset to learn that my father was going to a “turkey shoot.” My imagined version of this event dealt with the shooting of live turkeys, maybe in cages. In reality, a turkey shoot is a contest where participants shoot at paper targets and win frozen turkeys. In my life a turkey shoot is a full day of preparing, futzing, styling, adjusting, dusting, lighting, picking at with tweezers and such, eventually culminating in the final click of the shutter. Noonish, overwhelmed with the sight and smells, we also had these Plainville Turkey Burgers for lunch. They were satisfying and delicious with lots of fresh salad piled atop a warm whole wheat bun. I forgot the pickles. Shoot.
The Whole Truth behind Whole foods
In this month’s The New Yorker, Nick Paumgarten has published a well written summary of the life and times of John Mackey, CEO and controversial co-founder of Whole Foods. His views may surprise you, and his approach is definitely one to learn from, even if that means what “not to do”. Check it out at http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/01/04/100104fa_fact_paumgarten
