Inspired by the pumpkin seed thread I pulled out my "Authentic Mexican"
cookbook to make out a shopping list for Pumpkin seed mole "Pipian". As
luck would have it all that I needed were pumpkin seeds and ancho chiles.
Because of other errands I ended up shopping at Whole Foods (for those
familiar with Chicago the one located on Sheffield near North Ave). I
finally locate the anchos in the bulk spice section. I like the bulk spice
section even though I know the prices are a little high because you can buy
exactly as much as you need. I grab some anchos and proceed to stuff them
(literally) into the tiny bags they provide and am diligently writing down
the bin number when I notice the price they are asking for anchos. $28
dollars per pound!?? Huh? Did anchos suddenly become rare and precious?
Did the U.S. government ban anchos from Mexico because of hepatitis or BSE
;-)? Anchos costing as much as some prime dry aged beef! This is nuts!

I drive about a mile west to a Mexican market that I like and they are
selling anchos for $3.69 per pound. Sheez! The anchos at Whole Foods
weren't labeled as organic and even if they were this couldn't possibly
justify such a price differential.

Just a warning/

Kate <--- looking at prices much more closely now.

Kate B wrote:

> I drive about a mile west to a Mexican market that I like and they are
> selling anchos for $3.69 per pound. Sheez! The anchos at Whole Foods
> weren't labeled as organic and even if they were this couldn't possibly
> justify such a price differential.


You can find Anchos at Walmart for around $1.59 a bag... and a bag
usually contains 6-7 whole peppers...

~john!


--
Say hello to the rug's topography...It holds quite a lot of interest
with your face down on it...

On 11/20/2003 3:31 PM, in article
. net, "Kate B"
> opined:

> Inspired by the pumpkin seed thread I pulled out my "Authentic Mexican"
> cookbook to make out a shopping list for Pumpkin seed mole "Pipian". As
> luck would have it all that I needed were pumpkin seeds and ancho chiles.
> Because of other errands I ended up shopping at Whole Foods (for those
> familiar with Chicago the one located on Sheffield near North Ave). I
> finally locate the anchos in the bulk spice section. I like the bulk spice
> section even though I know the prices are a little high because you can buy
> exactly as much as you need. I grab some anchos and proceed to stuff them
> (literally) into the tiny bags they provide and am diligently writing down
> the bin number when I notice the price they are asking for anchos. $28
> dollars per pound!?? Huh? Did anchos suddenly become rare and precious?
> Did the U.S. government ban anchos from Mexico because of hepatitis or BSE
> ;-)? Anchos costing as much as some prime dry aged beef! This is nuts!
>
> I drive about a mile west to a Mexican market that I like and they are
> selling anchos for $3.69 per pound. Sheez! The anchos at Whole Foods
> weren't labeled as organic and even if they were this couldn't possibly
> justify such a price differential.
>
> Just a warning/
>
> Kate <--- looking at prices much more closely now.
>
>
Did you ask if there was a mistake in the pricing, it happens from time to
time.

"The Wolf" > wrote in message
...
> On 11/20/2003 3:31 PM, in article
> . net, "Kate B"
> > opined:

<snip of my report about ancho chiles costing $28.00 per pound at Whole
Foods (in Chicago at North & Sheffield) versus 3.69 per pound 1 mile away at
a Mexican Food market>

> Did you ask if there was a mistake in the pricing, it happens from time to
> time.
>
I didn't think to ask at the time. In the interest of fairness, however, I
telephoned Whole Foods this evening. I was wrong about the price. My over
40 eyes read the price as $1.8? per ounce or $27.99 per pound. The actual
price is $1.87 per ounce and $29.99 per pound or two dollars more per pound
than I reported! I asked if there was any possibility that the price was a
mistake as anchos are significantly cheaper elsewhere. I was told that
there is *no* mistake on the price; the anchos are conventionally (not
organically) grown; and the store did not know why the cost was higher than
elsewhere.

In my experience anchos tend to weigh about 1/2 ounce a piece. Optimally
they should be soft and unblemished. The anchos at Whole Foods met this
criteria. The anchos that cost $3.69 per pound one mile away also met this
criteria.

In another post responsive to mine
"levelwave" > wrote in message
...

"You can find Anchos at Walmart for around $1.59 a bag... and a bag
usually contains 6-7 whole peppers...

~john!"

Assuming that the Wal-Mart anchos weigh, as is typical, 1/2 ounce a piece,
than Wal-Mart charges $1.59 for 3 to 3 1/2 ounces of anchos - which is a
far cry from $1.87 per ounce!

Maybe it's just me but this makes me more than a little bit angry. Whole
Foods is known to be expensive but to pay almost 10 times the price as
charged only a mile away for an equal product reeks! Reeks of precisely
*what* I am not sure ;-). Not price gouging but more like a subtle "hope
you won't notice" kind of mentality that seems incongruous in light of their
"natural" and "organic" and "protect the consumer" persona.

I like a lot of things about Whole Foods but I am definitely *not* going to
assume that I am getting a *slightly* elevated or reasonable price for what
I buy. I tend to notice things like price per pound when buying items like
beef, seafood, poultry, cheese and vegetables. I am not always so diligent
when buying things like spices or chiles.

When I buy at a high end market, for example, at Fox and Obel in Chicago, I
know that I will pay a lot extra for their beef. It's prime Black Angus
that is dry aged for 3 to 4 weeks on the premises. You have to calculate
the meat shrinkage from dry aging, costs of doing same etc. to determine if
the flavor differential is worth it for you. While expensive I am willing
to pay for it. Knowing that I have to pay more for generic Whole Foods
ancho chiles per pound than scrumptious Fox & Obel dry aged prime rib
flummoxes me.

OTOH: I have learned that you pay for the convenience of doing all your
shopping at just one store/market. I accept that as a cost of convenience -
but only to a point. I love the cheeses at Fox & Obel but nine times out of
ten I am willing to drive to Marcy St. Market (inside Sam's) to get equal
(sometimes better) and almost always cheaper (sometimes *much* cheaper)
cheeses. I will not buy any olive oil at F & E as their prices greatly
exceed prices at Marcy St. Market ... the list goes on.

Sometimes it seems as if there is no rhyme or reason to pricing philosophies
at many stores other than "whatever we can get away with". The only defense
is careful watchfulness.

Kate

"Kate B" > wrote in message
link.net...

>I grab some anchos and proceed to stuff them
> (literally) into the tiny bags they provide and am diligently writing down
> the bin number when I notice the price they are asking for anchos. $28
> dollars per pound!?? Huh? Did anchos suddenly become rare and precious?
>
> I drive about a mile west to a Mexican market that I like and they are
> selling anchos for $3.69 per pound. Sheez! The anchos at Whole Foods
> weren't labeled as organic and even if they were this couldn't possibly
> justify such a price differential.


Whole Foods is ridiculously expensive. Their quality in generally better
than a regular supermarket, but not that much better. Ethnic markets are
definitely the way to go for things like dried chiles.

My problem is that I live about 100 yards away from a Whole Foods Market. It
is by far the most convenient place for me to shop. I really don't mind
paying their prices all that much for things I can't find elsewhere, but for
"regular" stuff I try to avoid them. Just tonight I went there an bought
some ricotta and mozzarella cheese because it was so much simpler than
getting in my car and driving to the regular supermarket. Of course I
probably could have bought two or three times as much at the regular market
for what I paid at Whole Foods.

-Mike

"Kate B" > wrote in message
link.net...
> Inspired by the pumpkin seed thread I pulled out my "Authentic Mexican"
> cookbook to make out a shopping list for Pumpkin seed mole "Pipian". As
> luck would have it all that I needed were pumpkin seeds and ancho chiles.
> Because of other errands I ended up shopping at Whole Foods (for those
> familiar with Chicago the one located on Sheffield near North Ave). I
> finally locate the anchos in the bulk spice section. I like the bulk
spice
> section even though I know the prices are a little high because you can
buy
> exactly as much as you need. I grab some anchos and proceed to stuff them
> (literally) into the tiny bags they provide and am diligently writing down
> the bin number when I notice the price they are asking for anchos. $28
> dollars per pound!?? Huh? Did anchos suddenly become rare and precious?
> Did the U.S. government ban anchos from Mexico because of hepatitis or BSE
> ;-)? Anchos costing as much as some prime dry aged beef! This is nuts!
>
> I drive about a mile west to a Mexican market that I like and they are
> selling anchos for $3.69 per pound. Sheez! The anchos at Whole Foods
> weren't labeled as organic and even if they were this couldn't possibly
> justify such a price differential.
>
> Just a warning/
>
> Kate <--- looking at prices much more closely now.
>
>

Did you ask anyone at the store to see if they were mis-marked?. I can see
WF being a bit pricier but that's over the top.

Jack Price

Kate B wrote:

> Maybe it's just me but this makes me more than a little bit angry. Whole
> Foods is known to be expensive but to pay almost 10 times the price as
> charged only a mile away for an equal product reeks! Reeks of precisely
> *what* I am not sure ;-). Not price gouging but more like a subtle "hope
> you won't notice" kind of mentality that seems incongruous in light of their
> "natural" and "organic" and "protect the consumer" persona.
>
> I like a lot of things about Whole Foods but I am definitely *not* going to
> assume that I am getting a *slightly* elevated or reasonable price for what
> I buy. I tend to notice things like price per pound when buying items like
> beef, seafood, poultry, cheese and vegetables. I am not always so diligent
> when buying things like spices or chiles.
>
> When I buy at a high end market, for example, at Fox and Obel in Chicago, I
> know that I will pay a lot extra for their beef. It's prime Black Angus
> that is dry aged for 3 to 4 weeks on the premises. You have to calculate
> the meat shrinkage from dry aging, costs of doing same etc. to determine if
> the flavor differential is worth it for you. While expensive I am willing
> to pay for it. Knowing that I have to pay more for generic Whole Foods
> ancho chiles per pound than scrumptious Fox & Obel dry aged prime rib
> flummoxes me.
>
> OTOH: I have learned that you pay for the convenience of doing all your
> shopping at just one store/market. I accept that as a cost of convenience -
> but only to a point. I love the cheeses at Fox & Obel but nine times out of
> ten I am willing to drive to Marcy St. Market (inside Sam's) to get equal
> (sometimes better) and almost always cheaper (sometimes *much* cheaper)
> cheeses. I will not buy any olive oil at F & E as their prices greatly
> exceed prices at Marcy St. Market ... the list goes on.
>
> Sometimes it seems as if there is no rhyme or reason to pricing philosophies
> at many stores other than "whatever we can get away with". The only defense
> is careful watchfulness.


Kate, I hear ya. I went to that very Whole Foods you mentioned once
and I had to laugh at the prices. I guess with increasing
gentrification, dumb yuppies will pay those prices - but not me.
Ethnic stuff I usually buy on Argyle St. (Asian) or on Devon Ave.
(Middle East/South Asian/Kosher). Last year the Mexican supermercardo
in my nabe (the one that was right by the Sheridan L stop) closed - to
be replaced by ugly yuppie condos, natcherly :-|

The cheapest Mexican ingredients can be found at the Maxwell St.
Market, but then you have to get up at dawn on Sunday to hike down
there (I don't have a car, so...). Pilsen is a good place, too, to
shop for Mexican stuff.

There's a reason we refer to Whole Foods as "Whole Paycheck"....

--
Best
Greg in East Lakeview

In article <Pwgvb.160$xV6.31@lakeread04>,
Mike Pearce > wrote:
>
>Whole Foods is ridiculously expensive. Their quality in generally better
>than a regular supermarket, but not that much better. Ethnic markets are
>definitely the way to go for things like dried chiles.

Not only their quality is better, but almost all their produce (at least
the one I go to) is organic, which is why I shop there. Let's not get
into a flamewar about organic vs. non-organic, but if you're buying
mainly fresh produce and bulk stuff, I don't think it's too pricey.
For two people, I spend about $50/week on groceries, all at WF, and
that seems reasonable to me. However, I am buying no meat and almost
no packaged goods except oj and soy milk once in a while.

~Deepak

--
Deepak Saxena - - http://www.plexity.net

"Mike Pearce" > wrote in message news:<Pwgvb.160$xV6.31@lakeread04>...
> "Kate B" > wrote in message
> link.net...
>
> >I grab some anchos and proceed to stuff them
> > (literally) into the tiny bags they provide and am diligently writing down
> > the bin number when I notice the price they are asking for anchos. $28
> > dollars per pound!?? Huh? Did anchos suddenly become rare and precious?
> >
> > I drive about a mile west to a Mexican market that I like and they are
> > selling anchos for $3.69 per pound. Sheez! The anchos at Whole Foods
> > weren't labeled as organic and even if they were this couldn't possibly
> > justify such a price differential.
>
>
> Whole Foods is ridiculously expensive. Their quality in generally better
> than a regular supermarket, but not that much better. Ethnic markets are
> definitely the way to go for things like dried chiles.

Depends on where you live. In some parts of the country, the produce
at regular grocers is so bad, WF is the only source for anything that
looks edible.

WF is expensive, but their selection of food items is wonderous and
amazing. I shop there for the experience more than the products -
seeing what is on the market in terms of specialty products, organic
products and little-known products. I also like their deli.

-L.

On 21 Nov 2003 10:01:55 -0800, (-L.) wrote:

>"Mike Pearce" > wrote

>> "Kate B" > wrote
>>
>> >I grab some anchos and proceed to stuff them
>> > (literally) into the tiny bags they provide and am diligently writing down
>> > the bin number when I notice the price they are asking for anchos. $28
>> > dollars per pound!?? Huh? Did anchos suddenly become rare and precious?
>> >
>> > I drive about a mile west to a Mexican market that I like and they are
>> > selling anchos for $3.69 per pound. Sheez! The anchos at Whole Foods
>> > weren't labeled as organic and even if they were this couldn't possibly
>> > justify such a price differential.
>>
>>
>> Whole Foods is ridiculously expensive. Their quality in generally better
>> than a regular supermarket, but not that much better. Ethnic markets are
>> definitely the way to go for things like dried chiles.
>
>Depends on where you live. In some parts of the country, the produce
>at regular grocers is so bad, WF is the only source for anything that
>looks edible.
>
>WF is expensive, but their selection of food items is wonderous and
>amazing. I shop there for the experience more than the products -
>seeing what is on the market in terms of specialty products, organic
>products and little-known products. I also like their deli.

Even in the blue-collar wilderness of SE Virginia, I just got some
anchos for $3.99/lb yesterday. And I sure don't shop "for the
experience." No Whole Foods here, but I'm not sorry after hearing
Kate's story. As her follow-up noted, these *weren't* organic,
hydroponic, nourished entirely on cricket poop in some elegant island
setting where they were washed each day by gentle tropical breezes.
They were plain ol' ancho peppers.

Frogleg > wrote in message >. ..
> On 21 Nov 2003 10:01:55 -0800, (-L.) wrote:
>
> >"Mike Pearce" > wrote
>
> >> "Kate B" > wrote
> >>
> >> >I grab some anchos and proceed to stuff them
> >> > (literally) into the tiny bags they provide and am diligently writing down
> >> > the bin number when I notice the price they are asking for anchos. $28
> >> > dollars per pound!?? Huh? Did anchos suddenly become rare and precious?
> >> >
> >> > I drive about a mile west to a Mexican market that I like and they are
> >> > selling anchos for $3.69 per pound. Sheez! The anchos at Whole Foods
> >> > weren't labeled as organic and even if they were this couldn't possibly
> >> > justify such a price differential.
> >>
> >>
> >> Whole Foods is ridiculously expensive. Their quality in generally better
> >> than a regular supermarket, but not that much better. Ethnic markets are
> >> definitely the way to go for things like dried chiles.
> >
> >Depends on where you live. In some parts of the country, the produce
> >at regular grocers is so bad, WF is the only source for anything that
> >looks edible.
> >
> >WF is expensive, but their selection of food items is wonderous and
> >amazing. I shop there for the experience more than the products -
> >seeing what is on the market in terms of specialty products, organic
> >products and little-known products. I also like their deli.
>
> Even in the blue-collar wilderness of SE Virginia, I just got some
> anchos for $3.99/lb yesterday. And I sure don't shop "for the
> experience."

That's too bad. They have some wonderful products I can't seem to find elsewhere.

>No Whole Foods here, but I'm not sorry after hearing
> Kate's story.

You don't know what you are missing.

>As her follow-up noted, these *weren't* organic,
> hydroponic, nourished entirely on cricket poop in some elegant island
> setting where they were washed each day by gentle tropical breezes.
> They were plain ol' ancho peppers.

And nobody at WF forces you to buy them, do they?

-L.

(Deepak Saxena) wrote in message >...
> In article <Pwgvb.160$xV6.31@lakeread04>,
> Mike Pearce > wrote:
> >
> >Whole Foods is ridiculously expensive. Their quality in generally better
> >than a regular supermarket, but not that much better. Ethnic markets are
> >definitely the way to go for things like dried chiles.
>
> Not only their quality is better, but almost all their produce (at least
> the one I go to) is organic, which is why I shop there. Let's not get
> into a flamewar about organic vs. non-organic, but if you're buying
> mainly fresh produce and bulk stuff, I don't think it's too pricey.

This is what I do as well.

> For two people, I spend about $50/week on groceries, all at WF, and
> that seems reasonable to me. However, I am buying no meat and almost
> no packaged goods except oj and soy milk once in a while.

They also have some Whole Foods brand items that are quite good and
reasonably priced - their tortilla chips are a staple for us. I also
buy specialty items there - certain teas I can't buy elsewhere, sauces
and their olive bar and cheese selection are quite good. If you buy
on sale, their prices are comparable. I have taken cooking seminars
there, too.

-L.

"Kate B" > wrote in message
link.net...
<snip>
> I drive about a mile west to a Mexican market that I like and they are
> selling anchos for $3.69 per pound. Sheez! The anchos at Whole Foods
> weren't labeled as organic and even if they were this couldn't possibly
> justify such a price differential.
>
> Just a warning/
>
> Kate <--- looking at prices much more closely now.
>
>

I've only been to WF twice--once in Minneapolis and once in Chicago. I
thought their bulk foods prices were quite high but I bought some organic
popping corn, anyway. I apparently bought more than I thought because I
paid about $6 for what would cost me $2 in the bulk food section at a major
grocery store in Winnipeg. However, it was excellent popping corn and is
second only to the recently harvested popping corn I bought at the St.
Paul's Farmers' Market. I sort of wish I had more, but I have a huge bag of
Jiffy Pop to get through (by huge I mean Costco-sized huge). Time to make
some popcorn!

rona
--
***For e-mail, replace .com with .ca Sorry for the inconvenience!***

Hello.
nothing about anything at WFM should surprise anyone anymore, least of
all the prices. they are NOT a couple of old hippies who got lucky
with a tofu and organic banana stand. rather, they are an agressive,
money making, business as usual supermarket chain. (actually, its
business not as usual, they have a profit margin unheard of in retail
food sales). i am employed at the WFM in Beverly Hills, CA, certainly
one of the most affluent communities in America. When my customers do
a double take over the $5.99/# hamnburger or $7.99/# chicken breasts
or the $2.39/# turkey, i say "Welcome to Whole Foods." For the low
down on Whole Foods as seen thru the eyes of a former employee, keep
your eyes peeled to www.egullet.com.

"bigfoodLA" > wrote in message
m...
> Hello.
> nothing about anything at WFM should surprise anyone anymore, least of
> all the prices. they are NOT a couple of old hippies who got lucky
> with a tofu and organic banana stand. rather, they are an agressive,
> money making, business as usual supermarket chain. (actually, its
> business not as usual, they have a profit margin unheard of in retail
> food sales). i am employed at the WFM in Beverly Hills, CA, certainly
> one of the most affluent communities in America. When my customers do
> a double take over the $5.99/# hamnburger or $7.99/# chicken breasts
> or the $2.39/# turkey, i say "Welcome to Whole Foods." For the low
> down on Whole Foods as seen thru the eyes of a former employee, keep
> your eyes peeled to www.egullet.com.
>

Where on egullet?

pavane

Wow, Here in Toronto, Anchos are $2.49 Cd a pound at No Frills. I
guess they must be Cuban?

Holas Amigos,
Biff





"Rona Yuthasastrakosol" > wrote in message




>...
> "Kate B" > wrote in message
> link.net...
> <snip>
> > I drive about a mile west to a Mexican market that I like and they are
> > selling anchos for $3.69 per pound. Sheez! The anchos at Whole Foods
> > weren't labeled as organic and even if they were this couldn't possibly
> > justify such a price differential.
> >
> > Just a warning/
> >
> > Kate <--- looking at prices much more closely now.
> >
> >
>
> I've only been to WF twice--once in Minneapolis and once in Chicago. I
> thought their bulk foods prices were quite high but I bought some organic
> popping corn, anyway. I apparently bought more than I thought because I
> paid about $6 for what would cost me $2 in the bulk food section at a major
> grocery store in Winnipeg. However, it was excellent popping corn and is
> second only to the recently harvested popping corn I bought at the St.
> Paul's Farmers' Market. I sort of wish I had more, but I have a huge bag of
> Jiffy Pop to get through (by huge I mean Costco-sized huge). Time to make
> some popcorn!
>
> rona