I can tell you what Trader Joes is all about. I have shopped there for years and that is the one store that I miss and would love to have here in The Villages.
If you want to shop in a store that only carries healthy items, then Trader Joes is for you. When I left NY and moved to Richmond VA, there were no Trader Joes in VA. Myself and many others wrote Trader Joes and after a few years they finally opened one up. Once they opened, I went there and asked if someone from the store would come to my 55 and up development and give a presentation on what they have to offer. They agreed and told all that attended what they are all about. Its not just their wine (2 buck chuck), which by the way is called Charles Shaw and its not $2 in VA, its $3.75. Their meats, fruits and vegetables are pesticide free, antibiotic free, and everything is organic, without paying the Whole Foods price. One thing that stuck with me from their presentation is that any product you buy from them, look at the ingredients label and there will never be a word you cannot pronounce or understand. If you ask them to carry an item, they look it up and check it out and if there are ingredients in it that are not healthy they will tell you no. One example of many is, bread crumbs. Check out your label on the bread crumbs you have in your pantry, Progresso Italian Bread Crumbs has close to 75 ingredients, seriously its bread crumbs. Trader Joes bread crumbs has 5 ingredients and add 5 spices and you have a total of 10 ingredients.
This store is not for all, not everyone really cares if what they are eating is good for them or not, you will never find food that is fried in Trader Joes.
When you look around The Villages, what you see are many people living a very healthy lifestyle, this is why I think Trader Joes is a perfect fit for us. One last thing is that you cannot beat their prices!
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Originally Posted by graciegirl
I have never been in a Trader Joe's and am curious to see how it could be better than Publix which I love. I am a person who really enjoys food shopping and cooking.
When I ask people what they love about Trader Joes I am stuck with an image like the blind man describing the elephant.
People talk about ethnic food and already prepared food cheaper than Fresh Market, not very big place, unusual items, two dollar wine, and not very big store ...most repeat that twice, it isn't very big and has hard to find stuff. I am totally curious but am looking forward to the experience since I have not yet heard any bad comments.
I am from Cincinnati, birthplace of Barney Kroger. You gotta work hard to beat a Kroger superstore, but I have grown to love Publix.
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