Re: TRADER JOE'S is open!!!!

[Guest guest]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

,

went out there tonight .. everything is at least

half or more cheaper than any co op. Their produce

sucks , they have tons of sprouted grain breads at a

price you wouldn't believe etc. great!

andrea

--- <carrieeclark@...> wrote:

> Trader Joe's opend yesterday in St. Louis Park. Many

> of their items are

> in the " best " and " good " catagory in the WAPF

> shopping guide.

> The prices are supposed to be very good also. It

> sounds CRAZY to get in

> the door right now so I may wait to go next week.

> Has anyone been to one? Is all the excitement

> warranted?

>

>

>

>

>

www.wildoatsdiaperz.com Re-opened! New products!

In the name of family values , we must ask who's family?-Lou

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

When I lived in IL I went to trader joe's regularly. When ever I go

back to IL (4 - 5 times a year) I stop there and stock up on some

things. But now having lived in MN and shopped at co-ops, they are

really not much different. Trader Joe's has more of their own label

stuff, but the items are still the same. A bag of frozen broccoli is

the same both places even if one says Trader Joes and one says

Cascadian Farms. Now having said that some of my favorite TJ's stuff

are: the apricot applesauce, " the best in show " hot dogs (all beef,

organic, no nitrates), peach sauce, sprouted grain pasta, bruchetta,

and artichoke dip. I am not a wine drinker, but everyone I know that

drinks wine raves over their $3 Shaw wines.

So, my opinion, they do have cool stuff, but it doesn't warrant all

the excitement, especially if you've shopped the co-ops in the past.

Ann Marie

~~~~~~~~~~

" I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon.

I seek opportunity to develop whatever talents God gave me - not

security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by

having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk;

to dream and to build, to fail and succeed. I refuse to barter

incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the

guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of

utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficience nor my dignity for

a handout. I will never cower before any earthly master nor bend to

any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to

think and act myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face

the world boldly and say - 'This, with God's help, I have done.' All

this is what it means to be an American. " -Dean Alfange

~~~~~~~~~~

www.downsizedc.org

www.constitutionparty.com

www.nonais.org

www.NoNationalID.com

www.freedomtofacism.com

On May 16, 2006, at 7:15 PM, wrote:

> Trader Joe's opend yesterday in St. Louis Park. Many of their items

> are

> in the " best " and " good " catagory in the WAPF shopping guide.

> The prices are supposed to be very good also. It sounds CRAZY to

> get in

> the door right now so I may wait to go next week.

> Has anyone been to one? Is all the excitement warranted?

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

hmmm. Of the things I buy at TJ's the prices are the same as the co-

ops. No Nitrate hot dogs $3.99 at both; Different flavored apple

sauces $3.99 at both. I would agree their bread is less expensive -

some are definitely better than others. Some of their sprouted bread

is yucky. I think their dried fruits and nuts are more. Perhaps

their prices are lower for grand opening than the established ones I

have been to in IL. And they never have sales... that is stated in

their monthly fliers.

Ann Marie

~~~~~~~~~~

" I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon.

I seek opportunity to develop whatever talents God gave me - not

security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by

having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk;

to dream and to build, to fail and succeed. I refuse to barter

incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the

guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of

utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficience nor my dignity for

a handout. I will never cower before any earthly master nor bend to

any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to

think and act myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face

the world boldly and say - 'This, with God's help, I have done.' All

this is what it means to be an American. " -Dean Alfange

~~~~~~~~~~

www.downsizedc.org

www.constitutionparty.com

www.nonais.org

www.NoNationalID.com

www.freedomtofacism.com

On May 16, 2006, at 8:30 PM, Marrapodi wrote:

> everything is at least

> half or more cheaper than any co op. Their produce

> sucks , they have tons of sprouted grain breads at a

> price you wouldn't believe etc. great!

[Guest guest]

What is Trader Joe's reputation with food producers? I am immediately

suspicious of chain retailers who promise low, low prices.

I still prefer to put as much of my grocery money as possible into the

hands of local producers -- or failing that, at least local

(non-corporate) retailers, such as my co-ops.

Am I just a crank?

~ Genie

[Guest guest]

I shopped regularly at Trader Joe's in CA for 4 years prior to moving

here in October. I have been waiting for Trader Joe's ever since and

actually dragged my family there on opening day -- I literally had

tears in my eyes. So you know I LOVE TJ's...

Yes, the wine prices are great - Shaw is a great tasting table

wine. I never buy their bread - in my experience it always spoiled

too quickly. The cheese prices are excellent and many (all?) of the

cheeses are rbst-free. I LOVE their vitamins - they work; they don't

make me feel sick and they are well priced. They have well-priced

frozen fish/meat as well. The TP is recyled and cheap. The produce -

I wouldn't say " it sucks " - the quality is good, just not much to

choose from. If you are in a CSA, it really doesn't matter.

All I know is in CA I spent around $60-$75 a week at TJs for my family

of four (2 littles ones, 2 grown-ups) with a year-round CSA for

veggies & fruit. At the Wedge, I was lucky if I spent only $150. I'm

thrilled!

Happy shopping!

[Guest guest]

> I still prefer to put as much of my grocery money as possible into the

> hands of local producers -- or failing that, at least local

> (non-corporate) retailers, such as my co-ops.

>

> Am I just a crank?

No, I think that's a very valid point. I almost want to make an

analogy to buying organic produce from Wal-Mart, except that I would

patronize Trader Joe's over Sprawl-Mart any day. Trader Joe's has

been a lifesaver when traveling out of state, when we didn't know

where the co-ops were.

I guess it's a matter of how much one is willing to compromise their

values.

~Joe

[Guest guest]

,

I've been to several TJs in California and you have to really read the

labels, particularly of their store brand products. They (and to a certain

extent, Whole Foods Market stores) aren't really purists as far as the

additives,

etc. in their foods.

The coops, on the other hand, can be very strict and not bend the rules at

all (it does vary from coop to coop, however). In my coop in WI, you would

never find certain ingredients because the grocery manager is a purist. Which

means there are certain items and brands they won't carry. TJ and WFM, on

the other hand, carries what are the best sellers, regardless of what is in the

item, because they are both profit driven, rather than philosophy driven.

Plus, with the coops, your dollars are kept locally, with TJ and WFM, your

dollars are sent to corporate offices in faraway states.

Warmly,

beth

(who has several decades of shopping in and working in the natural foods

industry)

beth Buchele RSHom(NA) CCH*

Professional Homeopath

Offices in St. Louis Park, MN

952-933-6068

and Menomonie, WI

715-231-6068

_www.healthnaturally.biz_ (http://www.healthnaturally.biz/)

*Registered with The Society of Homeopaths, North America

Certified in Classical Homeopathy

In a message dated 5/16/2006 7:15:54 P.M. Central Standard Time,

carrieeclark@... writes:

Trader Joe's opend yesterday in St. Louis Park. Many of their items are

in the " best " and " good " catagory in the WAPF shopping guide.

The prices are supposed to be very good also. It sounds CRAZY to get in

the door right now so I may wait to go next week.

Has anyone been to one? Is all the excitement warranted?

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

this is the first time I have posted here but I thought I would share my thought

process today. I did it, I went to Trader Joe's. I had been to one in NH about

5-6 years ago and did not pay much attention to it so I thought I would give it

a try. I found the same Applegate farms sliced deli meat that we occasionally

buy for the co-op for almost 2 bucks cheaper but otherwise, it just did not

impress me. Very little of their produce was organic let alone fair trade and

their conventional wasn't very competitive and was heavily packaged. A lot of

prepack frozen food. Now do not get me wrong, I am not a purist ( though I

strive a little more each day) I still go to Target for shower curtains. So

please do not take this as an I am superior sustainable girl because it is not.

But we kind of walked through it in terms of food choices. 1) grow your own ( we

have almost no yard, all food production and raise our own chickens here in the

city) 2) my local co-op which I can bike to 3) my local co-op which I drive to

tied with the farmers market 4) Cub or Rainbow union jobs even our cub has local

organic eggs and milk now. 5) Whole foods -this is me being a bad guilty

pleasure consumer at least they highlight local products ( I saw Mt. Sterling

cheese there I have many friends in Gays Mills, WI so this got me tickled). Then

Trader Joes. After the gas, the corporate profits - nothing local I got this

icky wal mart feeling. Anyway, I am not posting this to dog anyone who found

something neat there, just sharing my day long meditation on food choices- I

suppose I should start getting my milk direct from farmer since we are making

our own cheese products now--hmmmm.

Minneapolis

Re: TRADER JOE'S is open!!!!

,

I've been to several TJs in California and you have to really read the

labels, particularly of their store brand products. They (and to a certain

extent, Whole Foods Market stores) aren't really purists as far as the

additives,

etc. in their foods.

The coops, on the other hand, can be very strict and not bend the rules at

all (it does vary from coop to coop, however). In my coop in WI, you would

never find certain ingredients because the grocery manager is a purist.

Which

means there are certain items and brands they won't carry. TJ and WFM, on

the other hand, carries what are the best sellers, regardless of what is in

the

item, because they are both profit driven, rather than philosophy driven.

Plus, with the coops, your dollars are kept locally, with TJ and WFM, your

dollars are sent to corporate offices in faraway states.

Warmly,

beth

(who has several decades of shopping in and working in the natural foods

industry)

beth Buchele RSHom(NA) CCH*

Professional Homeopath

Offices in St. Louis Park, MN

952-933-6068

and Menomonie, WI

715-231-6068

_www.healthnaturally.biz_ (http://www.healthnaturally.biz/)

*Registered with The Society of Homeopaths, North America

Certified in Classical Homeopathy

In a message dated 5/16/2006 7:15:54 P.M. Central Standard Time,

carrieeclark@... writes:

Trader Joe's opend yesterday in St. Louis Park. Many of their items are

in the " best " and " good " catagory in the WAPF shopping guide.

The prices are supposed to be very good also. It sounds CRAZY to get in

the door right now so I may wait to go next week.

Has anyone been to one? Is all the excitement warranted?