The Problem With Wegmans

Or Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or Costco for that matter is that no matter how nice the store (and admittedly they are great stores), I find myself let down by the sanitized presentation.  There seems to be no trace left of where the food came from.  Meat is packaged down to each individual cut to the point that it’s hard to remember the animal at all, and getting produce in plastic boxes and foam trays just doesn’t inspire me.

I want to interact with the person who grew or made the cheese or raised the animal.  I feel inspired by the fresh air, the dirt and the people who work to make the food we eat.  I would prefer less choices that are all quality than aisles and aisles of things I don’t need.  Instead of having the choice to cook anything I now prefer to make dishes around what is in season and abundant locally, and to shop in small stores with people I know helping me.  On the economic side it makes sense too.  41 cents for every dollar spent at a locally owned business goes back into the community compared with 14 cents from a national chain, and the average farmer receives 5 cents on the dollar for produce purchased at a grocery store.

This doesn’t mean you will never see me in these stores again, but less and less so.  And when the new butcher shop opens up across the street I plan on never buying meat anywhere else again.  I have longed for a butcher who could make special cuts for me, source grass fed beef and have real advice on preparation.  I can hardly believe one is coming to the Burg.

For me food and community are closely linked and pleasure on the plate is part of knowing the people who made it or carefully selected it.