Can local and organic foods from Walmart compete with those from Whole Foods? The Atlantic’s Corby Kummer sets out to find out just that after learning about Walmart’s new Heritage Agriculture program, which encourages farms within a day’s drive to deliver crops
to one of its warehouses. Walmart being Walmart, the move isn’t motivated by a burning belief in locavorism as much as a desire to save on shipping costs, but the locavorism is a benefit nonetheless. But how do Walmart’s groceries taste?
To find out, Kummer set up a four-course blind tasting at locally-focused Austin restaurant Fino. Each course was split into two dishes, identically prepared but for the ingredients — one set from Whole Foods and one from Walmart. Kummer called it a draw: Walmart’s almonds, mixed greens, and spinach handily beat their Whole Foods competitors, but Whole Foods’ chicken, milk, and pomegranates reigned supreme in their categories. Worth noting: Walmart’s ingredients were also $50 cheaper. Watch the video to preview the produce for yourself.
The Great Grocery Smackdown [Food/The Atlantic]
