Whose Foods, an anti-gentrification group, is calling for a boycott of the JP Whole Foods Market until the grocer signs a Community Benefits Agreement.
Persons opposed to Whole Foods' new store in JP are asking for a boycott of the store until the grocer signs a Community Benefits Agreement.
The grocer has repeatedly stated that it will use its usual community giving programs instead of crafting a specific agreement for JP. Those programs include "5 Percent Days" like the one this month that benefited JP's Community Servings. Before opening the new store in Hyde Square, the company had given $40,000 to various JP causes, according to the store's marketing coordinator.
The call for the boycott is tied to Thanksgiving, the lead-up to which is traditionally a time of high sales volume at grocery stores. The Whose Foods? anti-gentrification group wants the store to enter a formal agreement to do these five things:
1) fund affordable housing efforts
2) fund local youth programs
3) fund local small business assistance
4) provide a living wage for all of the JP store's employees
5) publish a traffic impact study
Persons opposed to Whole Foods argue that the upscale grocer exacerbates the negative effects of gentrification in JP. For instance, they say rising property values lead to lower-income persons being forced out of the neighborhood via higher rents.
The boycott effort also has its own Facebook event page. There is a online petition at change.org.
Whole Foods' arrival in JP has been broadly welcomed. A protest on the store's opening day drew about 20 people.
[Editor's note: Thanks to a reader, a typo and a sentence about grocery stores and Thanksgiving were fixed.]
Steve Garfield
1:14 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Can you also write an article titled, "Proponents of Whole Foods love it and will shop at the JP Store."
Rich P
6:16 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Seriously - that is a long overdue article and the journalistially responsible things to do. Including of course interviews with actaul real people of Hyde Square, former Hi Lo workers who are working at WFM, business owners in Hyde and Canary squares and a second chance for all the politicians to comment. In addition, some responsible journalist needs to comment on the profound economic impact of 100 jobs and all of the tax revenues that come with the WFM economic engine. Real estate, Sales and income Tax revenues that will do more for social programming than the whose rooders could ever do.
Steve Garfield
6:26 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Excellent comment Rich P. Any journalists reading this that are interested?
Rich P
6:37 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Pardon typos!
Juli H.
1:22 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
I'd love to see what the effect of 5 people boycotting the store is.
Rich P
6:17 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Ya mean in addition to the enormous laugh that I personally am having? 8-]
Rich P
6:38 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
btw, it's 2 people, boycotting ... not 5 !
Helen Matthews
1:04 pm on Thursday, November 24, 2011
Actually, last I checked, there were 260+ people boycotting since it launched a few days ago. Not sure why the article doesn't mention that. Just clarifying.
Chris
9:30 pm on Thursday, November 24, 2011
Helen -- You count “260+ people boycotting Whole Foods." Funny—not even 100 could be bothered to take the step Whose Foods instructed of signing the petition at Change.org. Of the 97 that have bothered to even sign the petition they were asked to sign, many say they live outside Boston (Allston, Michigan etc.). Of those leaving comments some have given reasons unrelated to the petition (how Whole Foods sources its organic foods etc.). One person signed it as John Mackey of Austin, TX.
So what you mean to say is, 260+ people liked something on Facebook, many of those people don’t live near the store and most couldn’t be bothered to so much as sign a petition. But you want Chris Helms to go back to his article and say 260+ people are boycotting Whole Foods. Good luck with that. How about instead Chris Helms updates it by analyzing the results of the poll attached to this article?
Helen Matthews
10:54 pm on Thursday, November 24, 2011
Chris (not sure what your last name is, though full name use is becoming the standard here, and definitely seems like a more respectful way to communicate) -- to clarify further, the boycott appears to be primarily Bostonians, over half JPers, and a few elsewhere. It's a boycott of the entire chain, not just the JP store. There are various ways to pledge (not everyone pledges in all media, but they pledge nonetheless). Goodnight all!
Chris
7:57 am on Friday, November 25, 2011
Helen --
You write “Full name use is becoming the standard here.” Actually no. Most comments on this article alone don’t use full names. The Patch’s requirement includes just first name. Of course you could excuse “jpsmallbusinessowner,” the commenter you first replied to, for not wanting to use a full name when discussing a group that boycotts, uses public meetings as publicity stunts and calls people names.
You write “Full name use… definitely seems like a more respectful way to communicate.” Ben Mauer dispelled that reasonable hope when, just to pick one gem he wrote under his full name, he described Patch comments that don’t support Whose Foods a “torrent of right wing Ayn Rand selfish-gene Tea Party do-nothing froth.”
You write “To clarify further, the boycott appears to be primarily Bostonians, over half JPers, and a few elsewhere. It's a boycott of the entire chain, not just the JP store.” A national boycott of 260+ people. A national boycott and the Change.org petition’s goal is 2000 signatures. If that’s your position, how is this news?
“There are various ways to pledge (not everyone pledges in all media, but they pledge nonetheless).” Actually, Whose Foods instructs each person visiting its site or Facebook to sign at Change.org. Less than 100 have, some with joke names stated reasons completely different than those of Whose Foods.
Hey, how about my idea Chris Helms adds an analysis of the poll at this site?
Chris Helms
11:34 am on Friday, November 25, 2011
Hi Chris, I did a quick count and on this thread there were 18 posts with full names, 19 with first names (or first name and an initial) and two aliases. Helen is right that we are trying to build a culture of using first and last names in these comments sections. It's a work in progress. Folks using aliases get a private email from me, and I give a grace period before deleting their comments.
Chris
12:56 pm on Friday, November 25, 2011
And hi to you, Chris – I enjoy The Patch and appreciate your effort to cut down on the insults bandied about in comments earlier this year. Not sure why you felt the need to post the results, but you checked my math and found that indeed most comments on this article weren’t full name. You then repeated your policy on aliases, confirming what I wrote about that.
But you realize the rat hole we're going down here: Helen didn’t even bother mentioning that the person she first replied to used an alias whereas I complied with your policy. She was just giving me a hard time.
Rich P
11:18 am on Monday, November 28, 2011
Helen ... 260 ... ok, good point of clarification. So 260 out of the 37,400 residents of JP . Although, we do not know if all 260 are from JP, do we? Bit if all 260 were from JP, then 260/37,400 = .0069% so, um, that's less, far less than 1%, can we agree on that scientific fact? That's not exactly a groundswell of support for a movement.
Rich P
11:22 am on Monday, November 28, 2011
Helen, As part of your boycott etc, would you demand that Whole Foods take back the donation that I believe (I could be mistaken) of $25,000 from community servings that provides nutritious meals everyday to people struggling with end of life illness and give that money to you and your group that has yet to accomplish the support of even 1% of JP's good hearted people in a fair, unbaised and scientifically conducted poll that is open to public audit & scrutiny?
Cory Gudwin
1:30 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
This Whose Foods campaign died the same death that is going to be the fate of Occupy Wall Street.
If you approach a business screaming that capitalism and corporations are evil, nobody is going to listen to you.
Steve Garfield
1:31 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
If they are opponents of Whole Foods, aren't they already choosing to not shop there? So if they boycott, there shouldn't really be any change in the number of shoppers, since the opponents weren't shopping there in the first place.
Jen Rock
1:41 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
I'm so annoyed by these Whose Foods people. Their resistance to change and asinine calls for boycotts and protests actually encourage me to spend more of my money at Whole Foods.
John Kohler
1:43 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
I agree with Steve!
Besides, whole foods did not move in with the intent to change the demographics of JP, they had already changed, probably impart by those who are now protesting, saw a viable market and moved in to cater to it.
Jack
1:52 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
I have been, and will continue to be, a frequent and very satisfied Whole Foods JP customer since opening day. If other people want to boycott the store and therefore leave room in the aisles for the rest of us, I encourage them to do so.
tucker walsh
2:14 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
I'd not associate Occupy Movement with this anti grocery market thing. That does a disservice to the Occupy message, which, if you go by it's original intent - to protest the banking industry practices, it's nasty hand in elections, the bonuses after bailout - is something i completely agree with and is symptomatic of big problems. And I wholeheartedly support their right to protest.
I support Whose Foods right to as well - though i totally disagree with the time and energy spent on this. I walk through a vibrant market, see people from the neighborhood working there, see a space now thriving where there would have been nothing, and i think that's a good thing. Call me crazy.
Rich P
6:19 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
I agree with you Tucker!
Cliff
2:18 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
WF is a community asset! Plus - I love the new store and all those funky, friendly and beautiful 40-something and 50-something whole-earth mother JP chicks that shop there.
gretchen van ness
2:20 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
I'm happy that Whose Foods/Whose Community continues to attack Whole Foods because it reminds me again of all kinds of good things: that Whole Foods hired every single ex-Hi Lo employee who applied to the company and many of these folks are working in the JP store; that the company brought new jobs and great food to an underserved urban neighborhood without any tax breaks or government incentives; that the company has donated a phenomenal amount of money to JP organizations I also support; that the old Hi Lo building, clock and mural were restored and have never looked better; and that all kinds of people are coming to Hyde Square who might never have ventured into my neighborhood because of Whole Foods. This means that there are new customers at El Oriental, The Haven, JP Pizza, The Blue Nile, and the Brendan Behan -- all places I want to stay in business for a long time. And all of these good things have happened in Hyde Square without traffic jams and parking problems, which means that people are walking, biking, and busing to the market, as predicted. Oh yes, there's one more thing. The market is a friendly and welcoming place to shop and the sales are terrific!
David Hannon
2:24 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Hi Gretchen,
Any idea how much money was raised last week by WFM for Community Servings? I heard 7-8 stores were participating.
gretchen van ness
2:29 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
David, I've been wondering the same thing. I'll try to find out!
Steve Garfield
2:42 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Thanks Gretchen! Jobs! Food! Donations! Business! No Traffic Jams! Yay!
Rich P
6:40 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
"spot on" as they say these days Gretch!
Collier S.
5:34 pm on Friday, November 25, 2011
I talked to two former HiLo employees who work at another WFM and they said there are still a few former employees who have applied but have not yet been hired by WFM-for any of their stores.
Maybe Chris Helms and the Patch can look into this?
Cliff
2:23 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Whose foods follies:
1) fund affordable housing efforts
WF already does through its payment of state and city taxes, unlike the JPNDC's properties which are tax exempt.
2) fund local youth programs
See above
3) fund local small business assistance
See above - not to mention they carry local products made in MA.
4) provide a living wage for all of the JP store's employees
They do exceed the minimum wage and they are not forcing anyone to work there
5) publish a traffic impact study
With a market replacing a market, this is hardly needed...Just like you demanded one for Hi-Lo Foods
Eric
2:25 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
"The call for the boycott is tied to Thanksgiving, traditionally a big shopping day at grocery stories. [sic]"
Grocery "stories"!
Anyway, typo aside, Thanksgiving is not a big shopping day at grocery stores in Massachusetts because grocery stores are closed on Thanksgiving.
Chris Helms
2:35 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Good catch, thanks Eric. I'll fix that.
Steve Garfield
2:41 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Nice post Eric:
Thanksgiving Day - What's Closed - Retail stores: Closed. Liquor stores: Closed. Supermarkets: Closed. Convenience stores: Varies. Taverns, bars: Varies. Banks: Closed. Stock market: Closed. Municipal, state, federal offices: Closed. Libraries: Closed. Schools: Closed. Mail: Post offices closed; no delivery. MBTA: Buses, subway, trackless trolleys, and commuter rail on Sunday schedule. via Boston.com
Sarah
3:03 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Isn't Whose Food asking other Whose Fooders to boycott Whole Foods kind of like asking vegetarians to boycott meat? Aren't they already...uh...not shopping there? Will they be missed in any way? "Hey--you know that guy who didn't come in here last week? He's not here this week either!"
Cliff
3:10 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
'xactly! When the phone don't ring, you know its me not calling.
Rich P
6:28 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
I believe the # is $25,000 to Community Servings. Evil, Whole Foods, what an awful thing for them to do! I'd LOVE for the Whose Roods to get out there with a banner telling Whole Foods to take back that $25,000 from community servings, take the $ back from those desperately ill people, facing fatal illnesses so that the whose rooders can use the cash to fund their pet projects .. gee what would the projects be ... scream and yell at neighborhood meetings and get arrested then use that money to bail out their trust fund iphone toting pals, not feed people who are suffering from conditions we cannot even imagine. Because that is where the $ would go if they got the $, not to help feed people with actual real needs, but to bail out their pals who got arrested at the cool, chic protest!
Rich P
6:33 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Instead of a boycott, what we really need, is for Whole foods to expand! It is already too small, The parking lot, aisles and check out lines are jammed. The store is chock full of many well priced, good value items. Several at lower prices than stop n shop I was quite surprised to see. The best part is seeing those cheerful familiar faces from Hi Lo .. loving their jobs!
James Montgomery
9:23 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Too late for a boycott. Got cinnamon sticks, super chocolatey cookies and other vittles there tonight. The place was packed at 9 p.m. Whose Foods? Our foods. Take it back to Roxbury, suckas.
Joe D.
8:01 am on Thursday, November 24, 2011
Extortionists, dressed as community activists, looking for money to fund their unsustainable social experiments.I wonder if any of them volunteer to pay the additional tax rate on their yearly returns.
stephen Lussier
8:40 am on Thursday, November 24, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!! Today, is a day to be thankful for all we have.. I'm thankful; that Whole Foods is in JP and that i didn't sit in the traffic jam yesterday, on RT1- trying to get to the Whole Foods in Dedham, for my no antibiotics/hormones free turkey. The 20 Whose Foods people will go hungry unless, they find another cause. Perhaps they should take cooking lessons or audition for the NBC show the Biggest Losers ...
Steve Garfield
10:22 am on Thursday, November 24, 2011
Does the NEW JPNC approve of the request for a Community Benefits agreement? Shouldn't they wait until all the open positions are filled at the JPNC before deciding whether to go ahead with this request?
Chris
11:39 am on Thursday, November 24, 2011
Reading this latest story on Whose Foods, it appears Chris Helms has decided Whose Foods is a joke. But it's a funny joke and stories about them get readership. But I can't fail to notice that this article dispenses with taking Whose Foods at face value and is pretty damning and sceptical.
By the way, the petition at Change.org is already up to 95 signatures. 10 of them in just the last day, 9 of those not obviously a joke name and 5 of the remaining actually listing JP as their residence. Now 95 isn't quite as many as even work at Whole Foods, let alone shop there in an hour the day before Thanksgiving, but hey, do you really want these people to go away? Isn't it kind of fun having them around?
fp
7:08 pm on Thursday, November 24, 2011
fp
I shopped at whole foods twice and was impressed at the large number of customers apparently not dissuaded by the high prices. I was unable to bring myself to buy anything as i know the far lower prices at BABY NATS AND SAVE A LOT in roslindale and MARKET BASKET in somerville.
The whose fooders would do well to encourage MARKET BASKET to build a store in jp to provide food at 25 to 30 % less than STOP AND SHOP.
P.S the ANGELL MEMORIAL should open their TAX FREE parking lot for hyde square shoppers.
Rebecca D.
9:30 pm on Thursday, November 24, 2011
Whose Foods - youre simply ridiculous. Move on.
Find something worthwhile to spend you energy on - like doing anti-violence work in the area, volunteer to help feed the homeless, work at a food pantry.
Whole Foods wont and shouldn't sign your frivolous agreement.
Miguelito
11:59 pm on Thursday, November 24, 2011
Actually, last I checked, there were 26,000+ people not boycotting. Not sure why the article doesn't mention that either. Just clarifying.
Maura
10:44 pm on Friday, November 25, 2011
Collier...really? You can't be serious.
Alejandro Vermeulen
7:17 am on Monday, November 28, 2011
I guess ... if anybody had common sense, we would ignore these futile attempts to breathe life to a lifeless issue. If you got to the store...JP has spoken, with it's wallet and their presence in the store..always full and busy. But the most important is that people shopping reflect the varied cultures and backgrounds of our neighborhood.
The store has already had a positive impact with it's donations and employed people that would have been jobless and on the dole.
Rich P
11:41 am on Monday, November 28, 2011
Over thanksgiving, I had a very interesting conversation with exactly the kind of kid you all think is 'behind' all of this .. a friend of a TFB from Newton. (TFB Trust Fund Baby) the TFB's friend even said her friend is 'out there'. Her friend moved to 'cool' JP from Newton a few years ago and just needs a socialist cause to fight for, it makes her feel like she is doing the right thing, over compensating for her over privileged childhood and life without care adulthood. So she 'fights the good fight' against any big company - if there is a protest, she's there, doesn't really think much beyond the day of the protest - repeats the sound bites she gets from the sheets of paper that are passed out, signs the petitions, but that's it. She doesn't do anything else of value. She doesn't volunteer to help out those in real need, she's too busy shopping in Newbury street. That IS exactly what her friend said - can you believe it? !