Whole Story

The Official Whole Foods Market® Blog

Love Zucchini? Buy it for the Bees!

By Paige Schilt, June 12, 2013  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Paige Schilt

BuzzVibrant green zucchinis are the produce poster children for summer gardens because they’re easy to grow and extremely productive. Haven’t we all had that gardening neighbor or co-worker who tries to give away a bushel of zukes before they take over the kitchen?

Ever Heard of Squash Bees?

Behind every great squash there has to be a strong pollinator—or, in this case, a whole slew of pollinators. Zucchinis are visited by honey bees and bumble bees, but they also rely on native bees called squash bees.

Squash bees wake up early, when squash blossoms are just beginning to open. Sometimes they even spend the night inside closed squash...

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Power to the Pollinators!

By Paige Schilt, June 11, 2013  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Paige Schilt

We all know about “the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees,” but have you ever considered what pollinators’ famous role in reproduction means for your favorite foods?

Pollinators move pollen between flowers and thus ensure the development of seeds and fruits. In fact, they’re responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat!

Although pollinators come in every shape and size, bees probably make the largest contribution to our daily lives. Bees pollinate more than 100 types of crops in the US—everything from almonds to zucchini. They’re also vital to the reproduction of clover and alfalfa, which feed grazing animals like cows and goats. But last winter was a bleak season for bees. According to the latest survey data, the average US beekeeper lost 45% of her colonies.

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Port Buyers: Wild Salmon at the Source

By David Pilat, June 11, 2013  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by David Pilat

SalmonSummer means two things for the Whole Foods Market® Seafood team – warmer weather and the departure of our friends Keith and Anthony for Alaska.

Our Own Port Buyers

Keith and Anthony are the Alaskan port buyers for Whole Foods Market, and each May they pack their bags in Seattle and head north. For Keith, who grew up in Alaska, it’s a chance to see old friends (including the fish). For Anthony, it’s a chance to hone his skills buying fresh halibut from MSC-certified fisheries and wild salmon for our stores across the country; this is his third year learning the ropes.

No other national market has skilled buyers like Keith and...

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Your Certified Organic Grocery Store

By Courtney Mudge, June 10, 2013  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Courtney Mudge

Certified Organic GrocerCourtney Mudge is the Organic Certification Manager for Whole Foods Market. She's a 5th generation Texan who grew up on a ranch in the Hill Country. When she's not coaching our stores on organic integrity, she's being crafty and searching for the perfect taco.

When you hear the word “organic” what do you think of? If you’re at all familiar with organic farming, then you probably know that a certified organic apple has to be grown according to certain standards – such as no toxic or persistent pesticides. Makes sense. You might also know that certified organic beef comes from cows that eat certified organic feed and steer clear (no pun intended) of...

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Wild-Caught Salmon

By Alana Sugar, June 10, 2013  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Alana Sugar

Easy Matzo-Crusted Wild SalmonOf all the delicious fish out there, my absolute favorite is wild-caught salmon. It all started in 1996 at a restaurant near Mt. Denali in Alaska. I ordered the King Salmon, and to tell you the truth, I left my heart at that little restaurant! I also learned a whole lot of ways to incorporate wild-caught salmon into my menu plans at home.

There are several species of Pacific wild-caught salmon including King Salmon which is sometimes called Chinook, Coho Salmon, also called Silver Salmon, Pink (or Humpback) Salmon (used mostly for canning), Sockeye Salmon, also known as Red Salmon, and Copper River Salmon, which...

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