Another year, another anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and its all too familiar images of destruction and human tragedy. Destruction which, with reference to my comments here yesterday, was caused by what could be considered a tactical weapon by modern standards, measuring in the low kiloton range. I did run into one very thoughtful commentary this morning putting the candidates’ nuclear debate into some historical perspective, which helps to remind us of the broader context.
A long comment left by a reader yesterday challenged news coverage of the arrival of Whole Foods in Honolulu. I have to disclose that I love going into Whole Foods stores on the mainland which are a whole different experience than our large supermarkets here, whether locally owned or mainland chains.
Unlike the reader, I don’t think Whole Foods is targeting small local natural food stores. In fact, I don’t think Whole Foods considers other natural food stores to be their competition. They are competing against the Safeways, the larger chains, and Whole Foods expects to cream off some key demographic groups from those large rivals. I think it’s just as likely that Whole Foods views local natural food stores positively, since they serve as pathways for consumers who may eventually move some of their shopping to Whole Foods, although overall I suspect they serve a different demographic.
But the reader raises an interesting question about production capacity
Hawaii’s natural foods stores have been buying up everything our local farmers produce for decades, regardless of the size of their harvests. Yet, a number of them still must import produce because local farmers haven’t met demand. The fact is that Whole Foods will not buy much from most local farmers because their harvests are too small. Industry news reports say Whole Foods typically buys most of their produce from big farms in California and Chile.
Eventually, Hawaii’s small famers will have no buyers for their crops because Whole Foods will have eliminated the mom ‘n pop natural food stores that typically buy their small harvests.
I frankly don’t know enough about the dynamics of local ag to predict how Whole Foods entry into the market will impact local growers. This reader has a decidedly negative view. He is right, though, that more critical reporting is needed to shed light on this issue.
Be sure to check out all or part of the long online investigative series on the Shriners, recently featured in Investigative Reporters and Editors’ Extra! Extra! listing of good investigative writing.
Shriners investigation
Over a year ago, online investigative reporter Sandy Frost began digging into whistleblower�s allegations that executives of the Shriners Hospitals for Children used their positions of public trust for private gain. Frost researched thousands of pages of tax returns, meeting minutes, and public documents to find that the Shriners have, at the very least, failed to file accurate and complete tax returns. The 17-part investigation published on Newsvine.com can be viewed here.
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I don’t know anything about local agricutlure either, but I can tell you not all the local produce is going to the mom and pops. Just last night at Costco I bought a big bag of Manoa hydroponic lettuce, “Grown fresh on Oahu’s North Shore.”
The savvy high-end farmers (Wailea Co-op, Big Wave Tomatoes) sell directly to high-end restaurants. Sales at local food markets are second priority as the profit margins are lower. Talk to local restaurateurs and they are constantly complaining that they do not have enough good local produce, and that’s a market that is only going to grow as local awareness of the importance of buying local increases and energy costs drive up the cost of importing produce. There are a handful of local producers that are scaled up to handle a Whole Foods but few that do organic farming. If anything, this will provide a stable market to expand organic local produce that never existed and could prove a huge catalyst to growth for Hawaii grown food. This will, in turn, help local natural food stores by making it easier for them to find good local produce from professional, efficient farms. It’s really a win-win-win all around. All research shows that, after an initial drop off, the arrival of a Whole Foods tends to actually spur the sales of products at smaller surrounding natural foods stores.
I’ve got to agree with Hawaiirama. Whole foods has very high standards for their produce (and other local products – e.g. grass fed beef) and will drive the market toward these standards. As more organic farmers come on line, as long as they meet the standards, they will sell all they can produce. Consumers will demand more local produce of that quality – organic or conventional. With improved quality, you’ll see more third party (e.g. Primus) certification of local farms. Right now some chains, or even some wholesalers won’t buy unless the farm has been certified. The “buy fresh – buy local” campaign will continue to grow.
Blah, blah, blah. Enough about Whole Foods, let’s focus on those suspicious miniature cars the Shriners drive in parades! Heh.