Whole Food, wholly different

The new Whole Food store opened amid much fanfare on St. Valentine's Day. It's down the block from the former Whole Grocer, which it bought last year, but couldn't be further away from a consumer perspective. The old Whole Grocer steadfastly featured locally grown produce, including greens and root vegetables in winter, and a large selection of bulk foods. The new Whole Foods has no local produce--not even Maine potatoes--and doesn't even sell the basic ingredients for home-made granola. Also missing is the WG large bulk tea and medicinal herbal selection. The largest section of the new Whole Food market is devoted to a food court, with a stunning array of ready to eat foods such as soups, salads, prepared meats, and Indian and Mexican food. Whole Food brand goods have replaced some old staples, like Little Lad's wonderful almond butter (still available from the Little Lad Bakery on Congress Street.)

Wild Oats is looking better than it used to. On the upside, Whole Foods staff seemed to respond positively to specific requests for products previously carried by WG.

Update: Whole Foods now carries the basic ingredients for homemade granola, after customer requests. But it looks like Big Fish has eaten Little Fish, with this week's purchase of Wild Oats by Whole Foods, and the rumored closing of the Wild Oats store just a few months after it opened.