We're thrilled to announce the launch of a new project with Whole Foods Market. Somehow, we've managed to keep it under wraps for months -- till now.
Last summer's eight weeks of Whole Foods-sponsored contests? That mysterious bulk bin challenge? The Whole Foods Market Customers popping up with questions in Foodpickle? All are examples of the growing partnership between food52 and Whole Foods Market -- a company that shares our ethos of celebrating home cooks, supporting local producers, and always stocking our larders and crisper drawers with delicious, high quality ingredients.
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Now, Whole Foods is taking a bold step in getting back to cooking -- we feel this movement is vital to the way Americans eat and we know you do too.
Today, we're launching Whole Foods Market Cooking online -- a pilot project starting in Rockville, MD (but we hope to grow and might well be coming to your local community soon!) in conjunction with the debut of a cool new Cooking Department in the Rockville store.
In the store, you'll find a cooking coach on duty and iPads featuring an app we designed (see below) -- with vetted recipes and access to Foodpickle so shoppers can get prompt answers to food and cooking questions via text and email -- plus bulk bins stocked with an unprecedented selection of beans, grains, rices, salts, oils, and other staples.
 
And online, you'll find recipes from the Whole Foods Market and food52 communities, recipe contests (with prizes, of course!), real-time food Q&A powered by Foodpickle, and original blog posts on seasonal ingredients, cooking techniques, local producers, and in-store events and specials.
What this also means is that when you're a finalist on food52, your recipes will be seen (and cooked!) by more and more home cooks -- everywhere Whole Foods Market Cooking goes, both in stores and online. Pretty cool, huh?
So we hope you'll all go check out the new site and show them how it's done. Share your recipes, add your two cents on posts and pickles, and let us know what you think!
 
Written by: Food52
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78 Comments
Amanda H.
April 19, 2011
Thanks, everyone, for your comments -- and concerns, too. We've addressed both in a new blog post that explains in greater detail how the partnership came together and what it all means. Here's the link: http://www.food52.com/blog/1951_whole_foods_market_cooking_launch
elbows
April 15, 2011
This is unsettling. I'll admit I'm spoiled, being from Iowa City where we have several well-stocked co-ops and farmers' markets to shop at and not a single Whole Foods in the state, but I still do shop there when I can and I have to say that this feels wrong, this feels like selling out. Granted, I think supporting Whole Foods in improving their bulk bin (and hopefully herb) selection is a great idea. But I worry that in partnering with a large corporation we may be moving away from a small community of avid cooks and toward a group that can easily be sourced for information to serve the business interests of Whole Foods.
mcs3000
April 14, 2011
Congrats! Here's to more people cooking and discovering food52. I know I'm inspired every day by food52'ers.
dymnyno
April 13, 2011
When WF opened in Napa, they did so with every rock star chef and vintner in the area. Since then they have actually decreased their floor size and products. (exception: prepared items like salads and soups) We are lucky enough to have fabulous local produce that all our local groceries carry(and more of it). When the Maui WF opened everyone flocked to it...then went back to Mana Foods in Paia.(except for the prepared foods) They do generate a lot of online enthusiasm and I applaud the partnership with food52. It will be fun!
dymnyno
April 14, 2011
What I really meant to say is that each WF ends up getting tweeked according to the needs/wants of the community it is in. There are at least five WF within a 40 mile radius of me and I am amazed at how different each one is. I can't complain about prices because I shop there by my own decision. I also like that the store personnel all seem happy with their jobs!
AntoniaJames
April 13, 2011
I applaud Whole Foods Market for supporting food52 and our interesting, vibrant community. ;o)
thirschfeld
April 13, 2011
While I am a firm believer in everyones right to open and free discourse I am at a lose at some of these comments. In my neck of the woods there is such a thing as courtesy and it goes something like this, when someone has a success you should whole heartedly congratulate them and if you can't do that it is proper etiquette to keep you pie hole shut. This is a moment to be celebrated by the folks who work hard at food52 who made a good and sound business decision I am sure will help them to succeed in a very competitive market. Is it impossible for some of you to be happy for them and if you can't just zip it.
Panfusine
April 13, 2011
woah...blunt but well said thirschfeld..this is certainly not the forum to rain on food52's parade (which, if I may add, all of us are a happy enthusiastic part of!!)
Corkage
April 13, 2011
Well said thirschfeld!! I say good for food52 and everyone that works so hard!
phyllis
April 13, 2011
No matter which company Food52 chooses to partner/work with, there will be people who find fault. Let's just congratulate, participate if we choose, and hope that food52.com stays a nice, friendly, helpful community.
esgray
April 13, 2011
Ugh. Whole Foods is elitist, overpriced, and troubling.
I've avoided shopping there ever since this:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204251404574342170072865070.html
I've avoided shopping there ever since this:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204251404574342170072865070.html
fuhsi
April 12, 2011
Do you realize that Whole Foods routinely overcharges at the checkout, especially towards the end of a quarter, and they have been called out for this practice on other food websites? 15-35 cents here and there, okay- that could be an error in the system, but 2.50 and upward, or double-scanning of an item- that's egregious!
PS- I've saved receipts from the last bad round of overcharges, in the Christmas-New Year's week of 2010. Since then I've been shopping there less, and using Fresh Direct.
PS- I've saved receipts from the last bad round of overcharges, in the Christmas-New Year's week of 2010. Since then I've been shopping there less, and using Fresh Direct.
skooj
April 12, 2011
I will continue to read and learn from food52 and its brilliant contributors, but I, too, am saddened at this partnership. I am very surprised that you do not know how many local producers do disappear from the shelves once a Whole Foods becomes dominant in a community. Their locally sourced organic farms are usually one of the big agri-giant farms in California. A thoughtful shopper would do well to educate themselves about this company and all their practices. They are far from virtuous.
Whats4Dinner
April 12, 2011
I regularly shop at my Whole Foods here in San Mateo. I've actually been to the one in Rockville as well (very charming). Ideally, a "joint" project would also include sales on the item highlighted. For instance, "Your best recipe using ricotta cheese." Whole Foods ACROSS THE COUNTRY would offer sales on ricotta cheese. Is this not logical?
Burnt O.
April 12, 2011
I think that's a logical and brilliant idea. And highlight their winning recipes in their national newsletters. Wegman's does a similar thing by promoting recipes and discounting the products needed to make them. They could only control that on their 365 brands.
gingerroot
April 12, 2011
This might be a total coincidence, but it did seem like items that were on sale at my local WF here in Honolulu last summer were in some cases the very same ingredient for the weekly summer contest (I'm specifically remembering cherries, summer squash).
BoulderFoodie
April 12, 2011
I am excited for your new adventures! Although, regarding WFMs supporting local producers, well, they let us down in Asheville. WFMs came in and bought out Greenlife. The name remains the same but WFM products are everywhere. I went to buy my favorite local smoked salmon sausage and it was no where to be found. "We no longer carry it," they said, along with many other favorite local items. Bigger isn't always better. I hope you can maintain the warm fuzzy feeling of Food52 as it grows. Make a list of what is important to you and your members. Stand your ground. Best wishes.
gingerroot
April 12, 2011
I am a supporter of buying local and living sustainably and am wary of big corporations coming into town and shutting down little mom and pop stores. I will say though, that I have been very impressed by my local WF (Honolulu, HI) in their support of local producers - from small farms (including my CSA) to small businesses owned by friends and colleagues. This may not be the norm with WF, but I did want to give a shout out to them for helping to keep Hawaii eating local and buying locally made products.
TiggyBee
April 12, 2011
I always do my best to buy local and the best option in my area is WFM. Having said that, I'm super disappointed that they sell frozen *organic* veggies imported from China. I still shop there, but maybe they need to pick their game up a little. I live in a big city and surprisingly, the options get smaller.
oohsadetlo
April 12, 2011
Are Whole Foods employees allowed to be apart of the contests? Had no idea the Dallas store was apart of this by the way..awesome idea!
CatherineTornow
April 12, 2011
Hi oohsadetlo. I don't think there is a Dallas partnership right now. I was simply offering to do everything in my power to make it so. Here's hoping!
thirschfeld
April 12, 2011
During the winter months its it my go to store and I must say it is the only store to shop. The veggies are always great and the selection is always top notch. Not only that, the kids love to go there because everyone knows them and they have cookie club, i.e. free cookie for the kiddos, what more do you need. This is a great idea and glad to see this. Congratulations!
gingerroot
April 12, 2011
I love the keiki (kids) club too! Although here you have a choice of a banana, apple or fruit strip.
CatherineTornow
April 12, 2011
Congratulations! What a fantastic partnership. Consider this my official offer to help the union of Food52 and Whole Foods Dallas.
Panfusine
April 12, 2011
I'd even have settled for being the proverbial (unsquished) bug on your windshield to have hitched a ride there!!
See what other Food52 readers are saying.