Local Food Competition and the future
Whole Foods in Downtown Eugene
Gateway: J205/206
David Mann
Overview of the Issue
• Whole Foods Market, one of the most popular supermarket chains
in the world, is opening in Downtown Eugene in early 2016 after
years of being fought by a number of local residents.
• There are already a number of smaller business that specialize in
organic and/or locally produced food products in Eugene including
Sundance Natural Foods, Capella Market, Market of Choice, some
mid-sized companies like Natural Grocers, which opened in Eugene
about 2 weeks ago, and bigger players like Trader Joe’s, Safeway
and Albertsons.
• Whole Foods appears to be a responsible company based on the
values listed on the company’s website, but will its contribution to
Eugene’s economy take away too much from the little guy?
Why This Issue Will Work
• Long contact list: There are many organic food
markets that exist in Eugene, local producers used by
those markets, dedicated customers, local producers
contacted by Whole Foods already, and a number of
people who’ve spoken on the issue in the RegistarGuard and other local publications (Envision
Journalism, OrganicConsumers.com)
• The topic covers a relevant economic issue as well as
an environmental one (food miles, GMOs)
• I am currently on the fence about this issue (not
biased)
How It Is Visually Appealing
• Local producers/farms
• Small business owners
in their stores
• Food transportation
methods
• GMO labeling
• Someone to put a human face on this story
Story Examples
• Find the owner or an enthusiastic supporter of
a local organic market such as Sundance or
Market of Choice, documenting his or her
history with the issue
• Find a local producer/consumer/economics
professor with a strong stance on the issue
• Discuss my experience speaking with Whole
Foods representatives and with a local
company
Sources
• http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/mission-values
• http://www.marketofchoice.com/about-market-ofchoice/market-of-choice-mission
• http://sundancenaturalfoods.com/
• http://capellamarket.com/
• https://food-hub.org/files/resources/Food%20Miles.pdf
• http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_578.cfm
• http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/31941958-75/foodsbroadway-public-eugene-associates.html.csp
• http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/32208857-75/wholefoods-market-reaches-out-to-community-localproducers.html.csp
• http://registerguard.com/rg/opinion/32259296-78/whyoregon-voters-should-want-gmo-labeling.html.csp
Photo Sources
• http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/sites/default/files/media
/Stores/N-R/PTL/StoreFront_2012.jpg
• http://dailyemerald.com/wpcontent/uploads/2012/04/0418.jm_.housingguide.jpg
• http://capellamarket.com/
• http://farmfutures.com/cdfm/Faress1/author/252/2014/5/m
ore_time_comment_fdas_food_feed_transport_rule_1_6353
62758291273237.jpg