Whole Foods is the bully on the block, and they are now going after New Seasons in the guise of defending themselves against a lawsuit that is a direct result of how they how acquired Wild Oats.

New Seasons: We’re Just Trying to Mind Our Own (Local) Business

Why is this sort of nasty corporate behavior OK for Whole Foods?  Particularly given their “earth-friendly, we are the good guys” marketing message.

While I realize in some parts of the country, Whole Foods appears to be the only option for certain types of organic vegetables and meats — I strongly urge everyone to take a look at your local co-ops or family owned grocery stores as an alternative to Whole Foods.

In these troubled economic types it is especially important that we help our local businesses stay in business.

Here is a link to a good round-up of local grocery co-ops throughout the United States.

http://www.localharvest.org/

If I lived in a swing state, like Florida, Ohio, or even a place with an historically close race like Georgia, this is what I would do to support the voters in line on election day.

1. Go to Costco and buy a huge amount of snacks and drinks.
2. Stock up on interesting magazines that have endorsed Barack Obama.
3. Make myself a nice big “community organizer” name-tag, and maybe some stickers that said “brought to you by a community organizer” to attach to all the snacks, drinks and magazines.  (You can’t have political signs/buttons/etc at most polling places.)
4. Pick a few precincts that are particularly important for their Obama turnout (I’d recruit some friends, maybe even talk to the Obama campaign about targets), and walk the line offering drinks, snacks and magazines.

A well-fed and hydrated queue is a happy queue.

If anyone actually wants to do this I bet I could help raise some money for the snacks and drinks.  Here in Oregon we vote by mail.  No lines.  Probably not reasonable for me to get on a plane at this point.