In the past, Whole Foods has gotten a bum rap about its prices. To the point that many people call it ‘Whole Paycheck.’ They claim that’s what you’ll be spending if you shop there.

Is this justified?

My fiancee has been a holistic chef on and off for the past 10 years. So I thought I’d get her opinion on this. Whether she’s cooking for just the 2 of us or for 400, she’s always scouring the local stores for all the best deals on healthy eats.

According to her, it turns out that Whole Foods is the best choice (in terms of larger, chain stores) for getting the best deals on produce, everyday items, and local goods.

Buying Locally

Whole Foods has really embraced the idea of buying locally as much as they can for produce and basic items.

Take olive oil, for instance. The Bay Area is very close to the Napa Valley, which produces some of the world’s best olive oil. You can find high quality olive oils at Bay Area Whole Foods for half the price that a Trader Joe’s and Safeway just down the street might be selling them for, because Whole Foods now empowers individual stores to buy locally. By buying locally, they can frequently get better deals since they don’t have to pay as much for shipping.

Now, their motivation for this undoubtedly came from requests their environmentally-minded customers have made. But, the kicker is that they are passing those savings through to the consumer.

What Is and Isn’t Cheaper at Whole Foods

Some people say they can’t afford the extra costs that are associated with eating organic food. But the truth is, if you eat simple, fresh, healthy meals — it costs much less than eating out or buying packaged goods. So, if you want to cut your food costs, focus on making your own meals at home.

Look to Whole Foods to find good prices on greens, vegetables, fruit, and any organic produce. You should find locally grown items to be cheaper. If you live in an area or climate that doesn’t yield many crops or has a limited growing season, then as usual, you’ll have to expect higher prices at off-peak times.

Also, depending on sales and the source, you can sometimes find good deals on meat, poultry, and fish at Whole Foods. They’re quality is usually very good. I wouldn’t say their deli or seafood is cheap, but again, if it’s local you can often find a better deal. (For the best prices on the best quality meat products in the Bay Area, visit the Golden Gate Meat Company in the SF Ferry Building.)

You won’t find good deals on packaged foods at Whole Foods. Packaged items cost more to produce to begin with, but Whole Foods seems to have no problem charging extra for packaged and pre-made items. This is where you will find better deals at other stores.

Also, you won’t find good deals on lower-grade products. Going back to the olive oil example, you can find cheaper prices on lower-grade olive oils elsewhere. But, you can find better prices on mid- to high-grade olive oils at Whole Foods. (If you’re in the Bay Area, that is. I haven’t traveled around to check this nationwide.)

What’s a locally produced agriculture product that your area is well known for? Compare prices and let us know how this cheaper-for-local-goods theory holds up.

In Summary…

If you’re into eating organic foods, Whole Foods can’t compare to your local farmer’s market. But, you’ll get better quality organic goods than what can be found at other chains, because they have been lowering their prices on high-quality, un-packaged produce and bulk foods whenever they can.

So, the stigma that Whole Foods is too expensive is wrong. It really all depends on what you’re buying.

For more ways to save at Whole Foods, visit their website and enter your ZIP code to find stores near you. Click the ‘Store web page’ link for the store closest to you, and then you’ll be able to download their weekly flier with specials.