Local Food Competition and the future Whole Foods in Downtown Eugene

Gateway: J205/206David 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 Registar-Guard 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-of-choice/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/foods-

broadway-public-eugene-associates.html.csp

• http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/32208857-75/whole-foods-market-reaches-out-to-community-local-producers.html.csp

• http://registerguard.com/rg/opinion/32259296-78/why-oregon-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/wp-content/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_635362758291273237.jpg