Guest Blogger: Rebecca Horton: Whole Foods

Rebecca is a UNC grad who I had the privilege of getting to know during my time at the Summit. I didn't know her through the college ministry. I got to know her because she plugged in to others areas within the church and served. We worked in the children's ministry together - mainly during the child care times for other events.
Rebecca has a passion for many things - and she is a great writer about them. She now lives in DC (in my top 3 fave cities). So, I read her blog this morning over at Passionately Alive and thought I would "borrow" it - giving her full credit and a shout out! The reason I posted this here is the healthy benefit of whole foods. Eating vegetables, grains, non-processed (mostly chemicals and sodium) is so delicious and more beneficial. It provides you with much energy to be more active. The vitamins in most whole foods far outweigh its counterpart processed food - and therefore you are less sick and have more energy.
Rebecca - thank you for this information. Hope you are doing well. Miss ya girl!

So, i've been pondering significantly about my own values in addition to the principles which make a company "good/effective" as I approach the many ideas swimming in my head. Tonight, in the midst of trying to get into a Jane Jacobs book (i'm going to be honest her books are less compelling-writing style wise-than I anticipated) and make sense of this crazy calling i'm feeling on my heart with increasing strength, eating dinner at a table at Whole Foods I noticed their "Core Values" posted on the wall. Several of them really struck me and I think they're worth posting.
There are many reasons why I love Whole Foods, although admittedly it doesn't quite compare to my favorite Chapel Hill Co-Op, Weaver Street Market. (Side note, I love Weaver Street Market and the restaurant in there too.) And reading these values just cements my reasons for liking it all the more. Whole Foods started as a grocery option when I went on a fair trade/organic everything craze in college (a much harder quest than one might anticipate). Since then, i've become a frequent visitor. They have such a unique variety of foods, including certain local ingredients I was never able to find previously, and their store design is really invigorating. Additionally, I've never been to a place where the employees seemed so cheery, and excited to be at work-this is saying a LOT, I used to work in retail and it often sucks, straight up-, and their hot/cold food bar, while overpriced is really tasty. Not everything is perfect there, I do have some complaints and frustrations-especially about the overpriced items-but I like a lot of what this grocery chain stands for and works to live out day to day.So here are their values:
Selling the Highest Quality Natural and Organic Products Available
Satisfying and Delighting Our Customers
Supporting Team Member Happiness and Excellence
Creating Wealth Through Profits & Growth
Caring about our Communities & Our Environment
Creating ongoing win-win partnerships with our suppliers.
Numbers 1, 3, and 5 are especially intriguing...I'm interested in drilling down a bit more and exploring their business model in further depth. I'll let 'ya know when I find out more.

I hope these links and this write-up inspires you to visit your local co-op and eat more naturally and healthily for your body!