Remember the recent flap over CEO John McKey's Wall Street Journal op-ed on Health Care Reform?
In a move that stunned Whole Foods shoppers, McKey came out swinging with right-wing talking points, quoting Maggie Thatcher, and generally biting the hands that feed him.
So what was the upshot? Is the boycott still going on? I don't shop there anyway (who can afford Whole Paycheck?), so I don't have any idea of how shopping patterns may have changed. Apparently, the "buycott" generated a brief uptick in sales, but I haven't seen anything indicating that the teabaggers have become loyal Whole Foods shoppers.
Today I got an email from our local climate action group, encouraging us to shop at a Whole Foods event supporting microloans to local farmers. I replied that due to the CEO's outspoken opposition to health care reform that I couldn't support the Whole Foods event, but that I would continue to support local farmers through farmer's markets and community supported agriculture.
But seriously, WTF? Why are progressive organizations continuing to partner with Whole Foods? Yes, Whole Foods does have a history of contributing to progressive causes such as wind farms and local agriculture but there are other ways to make a difference in these areas without involving Whole Foods.