Our supermarket, ourselves
Citypages had an interesting cover story last week on what our supermarkets say about us. The author looks at Bylery's, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's to examine the values that might motivate folks to shop there. All three would be what I would consider alternatives to the way most people shop--mass supermarkets, like Cub or Rainbow in the Twin Cities. Whole Foods in particular has gotten a lot of note in the last year for its mention in Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma. Pollan criticizes the mass production style of most of Whole Foods goods, even as they try to build an image of a locally based, alternative grocery. The controversy is noted here, with quotes from both Pollan and the CEO of Whole Foods (see an exchange between the two here and here).
Notably absent are co-ops and smaller, less spectacular food sellers--convenience stores or discounters like Aldi. Nevertheless, there are some interesting ideas here, and even a mention of a professor I hope to work with as a student, Tracey Deutsch.