In Isaac Kestenbaum’s piece “Brave New Organic” about Whole Foods (January 12), I was dismayed by the comments of Melissa White, marketing coordinator for Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association, who disparaged the efforts of Whole Foods to fill their store with local produce. I applaud the efforts of a large company like this to try to make the Portland store a flagship enterprise that tries to include a large amount of local foods. Not only does this seem to be already more of an effort that their competitor down the street, but it might encourage Maine growers to consider growing more.
For instance, when I lived in New York City and worked for a farmer at the farmer’s market, the market stayed open until Christmas and some locations were open even later. If Maine growers could consider growing larger amounts of organic and local potatoes, squash, garlic, onions, kale, spinach, and even greenhouse greens all year long, couldn’t we put the business back in farming?
Eliot Coleman and Barbara Damrosch up in Brooksville have figured out how to grow amazing organic greens all year long as well as baby turnips and carrots and more. Why can’t we, in Portland, have access to this amazing opportunity at our local farmer’s markets as well as Whole Foods maybe nine months of the year — or all twelve?
I think the effort on the part of Whole Foods speaks to our strong nature as Mainers (and yes, despite six years in NYC I was born and raised here) that we require a nod to our roots and also, remember, “as Maine goes, so goes the nation.” The more large businesses like this one that try to fill the shelves with local, the longer we will sustain our planet and the longer we will thrive — our survival depends on applauding this effort, not whining that it isn’t enough.
What would make it even better, though, is if Whole Foods realized that they could save big money on trucks and fuel if they subsidized green houses and gave us local lettuce all year round. Just a thought. Still, I’m glad there’s movement in the right direction and that in giving up our beloved Whole Grocer we aren’t giving up everything that made some of us religiously shop there instead of across the street.
Caitlin Shetterly
Portland
