The best Canadian beef and chicken
May 15, 2012
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I spent this past Sunday up in Vancouver, BC, at the EPIC Sustainable Living Expo. We had a booth about Whole Foods Market’s 5-Step program on animal welfare, and we were very fortunate to have local ranchers on hand! Here’s me …
Fran’s Chocolates
May 3, 2012
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My latest blog post on the Whole Story blog over on the Whole Foods Market website is about Fran’s Chocolates, a beloved company that started here in Seattle and is now adored across the country – even in the White …
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
April 23, 2012
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This month we’ve had some of the warmest weather in Seattle since September of last year. My Dad (visiting from Ohio) and I took advantage of the beautiful weather to head up to one of my favorite places – the …
Edible Vancouver Honors the Local Forager
April 16, 2012
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Just a quick update from me on this, but very exciting to share. Earlier this month, Edible Vancouver magazine named Whole Foods Market as Best Retailer, Honorable Mention for sourcing local products. Here’s the excerpt from the magazine: We would also …
Visiting the Washington Artisan Cheesemakers Festival
April 10, 2012
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Even with beautiful sunshine outside, the Washington Artisan Cheesemakers Festival was the place to be this past weekend, especially if you’re a lover of Washington artisan cheese and other fine foods and beverages. Saturday’s event was a benefit for Cascade Harvest Coalition, …
A Taste of the Pacific Northwest Producer Fair
February 28, 2012
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We consider our Producers to be part of our Whole Foods Market family. One of the reasons foods “from around here” are so important to us is they preserve a way of life and methods of production for future generations …
Olympic Provisions in Portland
February 7, 2012
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On a recent road trip to Portland, I found another gem of a lunch place that I just have to share with you. As some of you might remember from my post about Firefly Kitchens, I grew up eating and …
Emmer Waffle Recipe from Bluebird Grain Farms
January 16, 2012
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When I visited Brooke and Sam Lucy at their Bluebird Grain mill this past summer, I was so excited to learn about all the different products that they have created. I often describe Brooke and Sam as “Little Red Hens” …
Neapolitan-style pizza at Oven and Shaker
January 11, 2012
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Mostly you’ll find me blogging about local products and the people behind them. But all that foraging makes a body hungry! So from time to time I just have to share some of my favorite meals from the road. Recently …
Organic Vegetables from Willie Greens
January 9, 2012
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Just popping in to say make sure you check out my blog post about Jeff Miller and Willie Greens Organic Farm on the Whole Foods Market Whole Story blog. Here’s a taste of the post: “Up here in the Pacific …
Holiday Cheer cheese from Mt. Townsend Creamery
December 7, 2011
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Note – I previously posted the wrong picture here. Mt. Townsend’s equipment is on the way and has made it as far as the Panama Canal. I’m often asked what I like best about being the Local Forager for Whole Foods …
Holiday wreaths from Serendipity Farm
December 2, 2011
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My sister was visiting from Ohio recently, and I wanted to show her some of the producers and products that make living in the Pacific Northwest so special. It was also a wonderful opportunity for me to share with my …
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds from Oregon
November 29, 2011
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I love snacking on pumpkin seeds, but I’m not a big fan of all the gunk that’s left over after you’ve chewed out all the good stuff. That’s why I was thrilled to sample the hulless pumpkin seeds grown by father-son …
Local Cranberries from the Vincent Family
November 14, 2011
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I visited the Vincent Family Farm earlier this fall when I was in Bandon for the 65th Annual Bandon Cranberry Festival (yes, that’s really an event, and it’s been going on for that long.) And now that we’re getting close …
What to do with a whole Keta salmon
October 25, 2011
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Everyone knows about King salmon, Sockeye salmon and the famous Copper River salmon. But have you ever tried Keta salmon? This lesser-known, milder-flavored fish is, to me, criminally underrated. And I’m not just biased because I know local fisherman Dave …
Apple Cider and Apple Picking with Skagit Fresh
October 18, 2011
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Nothing says fall like a tree heavy with apples ready to be picked. Okay, freshly baked pie and just-pressed apple cider are also pretty classic indicators of autumn. Fortunately, the Skagit Valley, just north of Seattle, is the place to find …
Beekeeping in the City
October 11, 2011
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I’m one of the biggest advocates for bees you’ll find – and as I’ve written about before, they need some champions! Studies show that the U.S. honeybee population is decreasing by 34 percent each year. And if we don’t have …
The Cost of Fresh Picked Produce in the 21st Century
September 22, 2011
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When you buy a tomato, do you ever think about where it comes from? It’s a different story depending on whether you bought it at a farmer’s market, a roadside stand, a Whole Foods Market or another grocery store. And …
Country Natural Beef
September 8, 2011
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Country Natural Beef is truly so much more than just beef. It is an idea that was born with Doc and Connie Hatfield 25 years ago and started with 14 ranch families who shared a vision for a better future …
Bluebird Grain Farms
August 30, 2011
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Earlier this summer, I pointed my car east on Highway 20 and over the Cascade Mountains toward Winthrop, Washington, to visit Brooke and Sam Lucy at Bluebird Grain Farms. How often do you think about where the grain you eat …
Champoeg Farm
August 16, 2011
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The Andersons of Champoeg Farm like to say that the eggs from a pasture-raised hen are practically a different food group when you compare them to cage-raised chickens. Having visited their picturesque farm and seen how they raise their hens, …
Meet the Makers – August 13
August 10, 2011
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Just a quick note to say that this Saturday, August 13, stop by your favorite Whole Foods Market store in Washington, Oregon or British Columbia between 1-5pm to meet some of the people whose hard work puts the food in our …
Firefly Kitchens
August 5, 2011
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My Polish grandmother would be so proud. I grew up eating sauerkraut and love it. Julie O’Brien & Richard Climenhage do too — so much so that they are the proud owners of Firefly Kitchens. They make a wonderful variety of …
Boones Ferry Berry Farms
August 2, 2011
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Hood Strawberries are the perfect taste of summer. These tiny strawberries are sweet and juicy and meant to be eaten the day you bring them home. I visited recently with Paul and Cyndi Snegirev at Boones Ferry Berry Farms in the …
Hatch Green Chile
July 29, 2011
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This week I had the rare opportunity to learn all about a product that we don’t find up here in the Pacific Northwest: Hatch green chile. Two representatives from New Mexico Department of Agriculture – David Lucero and James Ditmore …
Finnriver Cider
July 27, 2011
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It’s no secret I love cider. But sometimes you want a drink with a little more kick to it, if you know what I mean. On a recent trip to Chimacum, on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, I got to taste some …
Where are the bees?
July 13, 2011
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You know how much I love talking about bees and pollinators…check out this segment from this morning on Seattle’s Q13 about what the disappearance of the bees means for the foods we eat, and also how you can become a …
Meat Cheese Bread
July 7, 2011
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I don’t spend all my time at farms and on ranches. As you’ve probably noticed, I often stop and grab a snack during my travels. I feel it’s as important to know about how the local businesses are making use …
Willapa Hills Farmstead Cheese
June 30, 2011
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Update – December 12: Here is the equipment Willapa Hills purchased with funds from the Local Producer Loan Program! A 600 Gallon Double O Cheese Vat/Pasteurizer to expand production capacity and reduce stress on staff and creamery. The money that we …
Bee the Change
June 24, 2011
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Let’s talk about the power of pollinators: specifically, bees. Did you you know that we have bees to thank for 1/3 of the world’s entire food supply? That’s why it’s a big deal that the world’s honeybees are disappearing. I …
