#traderjoe's

[gonomax]

Labor Day is a federal holiday observed on the first Monday of every September. This year it falls on September 6.. Sometimes known as the

[teamfatkidnation]

112 Degrees of Trader Joe's Frozen Foods S5 E1

[weird-stuff-cf]

For all my Trader Joe’s hoes

[allaboutfoodgwu]

White Wine O’Clock

Welcome Back to White Wine O’Clock!

Feel free to grab a glass of wine or your favorite beverage while I describe the artistic display of white wine at Trader Joe’s.

I visited Trader Joe’s (1101 25th St NW) for my second field visit on Friday February 15th around noon. The white wines are displayed in the back of the store, close to the registers, with a colorful sign: West End Wine Shop. They are displayed next to different types of red wine, like Merlot. 

There were only a few customers in the area, possibly because of the time of day. There was a woman, who appeared to be in her 70s, shopping for a bottle of sauvignon blanc and, a few minutes later, a gentleman possibly in his late 40s, choosing a bottle of red wine. 

The floor to ceiling shelves are neatly organized by types of wine, Sauvignon blanc and Chardonnay. Cheaper white wines are placed on the bottom shelves, while the more expensive options are organized on the top shelf. The shelves are not fully stocked (right picture), compared to the display of white wine at Whole Foods. 

I was drawn to the artistic label of the wine’s team top pick (left picture). The packaging is very whimsical with butterflies on the edges of the label. This white wine of the True Myth brand, from the Paragon Vineyard, is loaded with citrus and tropical flavors, vanilla and hints of oak. It is priced at an affordable $12.99. 

The new item also caught my eye. It is an embrazen Chardonnay with rich stone fruit and honey flavors. As seen in the right picture above, the gold toned label displays a young Celia Cruz with lavish jewelry, staring with her polished hands on her chin. There is also an inspirational quote by the one and only Celia Cruz on the label: “When opportunity presents itself, grab it. Hold on tight and don’t let go.” This new white wine is being sold at the price of $11.99.

Right around the corner, there is an elaborate display of wines organized by country of origin: Spain, Germany, France, Italy, and down under, as seen in the top picture. As a way to upsell, there are wine bottle beverage totes displayed for an enticing price of 99 cents (bottom left). 

Trader Joe’s exclusive white wine from Spain, of the Adalina Bodegas brand, caught my eye. The white wine (bottom right) has a colorful and intricate design on its label, as well as an enticing description of its light and balanced taste with notes of green herbs, lime, fennel, and grass with subtle hints of peach. Its bargain price of $3.99 is also very enticing. However, possibly due to the flavor combinations, no one purchased the white wine. 

I plan to visit the wine section of Safeway for my next field visit after the spring break! I wonder how white wine will be displayed there, compared to Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. 

More to come on White Wine-O’Clock!!

[blissandfood]

Happy Mondayyyy! After attending Dr. AP’s class aka best class ever (I’ve mentioned this before), I made myself a way better version of Tropical Smoothie’s peanut butter crunch flatbread and a warm cup of Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Tea because it is FREEZING TODAY. So sad because I hate the cold but this toast made me feel better: Dave’s Killer 21 Whole Grains and Seeds Bread with almond butter, banana slices, a sprinkle of pumpkin spice, a lot of Nature’s Path granola, and a drizzle of honey. SO. GOOD.

PLUS what made this breakfast even better was that I ate it on my new baby pink plate from World Market because guess what?! I FOUND THAT FREAKING LLAMA. Well really it was cheating because two coworkers helped me (bless their souls), so I didn’t get that feeling of satisfaction. Won the $20 but can’t complain because I don’t deserve the $50 or $100 after cheating.. :(

After possibly one of the busiest and worst days at work yesterday ever, it paid off since I went to Sweetgreen afterwards with some of the coolest people (shout-out to Steph and Eyrica) and had a bomb curry cauliflower bowl-- need to try to remake it myself. I’m taking this week off from work for Thanksgiving!! So excited for the fooooddd and that it’s holiday season. Also a little worried this break will be more stressful than actually going to work and school because my dad’s home (he’s currently cussing out our neighbor for taking too many parking spots) but it’s okay we’re gonna make the best of it!

Lol I spent a while debating whether 3 pics of my toast was too much but I couldn’t decide which was best because it turned out too beautiful so screw it, this is a toast worth admiring.

[nothoward]

Yes. Apparently, we are that blasé about pollution.

Wouldn’t they just be better quality if they were raw, when they were caught?

[jonlake32]

A pint sized shopping cart with a plastic pennant that says “Customer in training” on it. Apparently they’ve been at Trader Joe’s for a while. I’ve only just now noticed them, because I don’t go to Trader Joe’s often. They are deeply, deeply horrifying. Knock me over with a feather. Shine a light in my eyes and my pupils won’t contract.

I get how this would be cool for kids. I loved pushing the shopping cart when I was a kid. I was doing it when I still had to really engage my thighs to get it moving. I get how it could even be useful for parents. The child might be engaged with their task instead of making a fuss, and it could be a genuine learning experience. I get how many people could benignly smile at the children playing at being adults. It’s a callback joke to “Driver in training” signs on cars used by Driver’s Ed facilities.

That’s why this is deeply horrifying. Like when children play house and “mother” cooks all the meals.

Commercials are corporate propaganda. Corporations pay for the right to broadcast them, we accept them for the sake of watching stories. They most often are stories themselves, which is nice, and it would be a bankrupt life if we didn’t tell stories about the things in the world. Not ideal, but whatever. This takes it a step further. This is roleplaying. “Aren’t I just like mommy, buying stuff at the store.” She is, of course.

Customer means consumer. “Consumer in training.” Consumption is more good than bad. Consumption is a decent definition of life. That is not the bothersome part. It’s why the other part is bothersome. Consumption is hugely important, and who here is doing the training?

The parent is a trainer of course. She or he (all of the parents with ‘in training’ kids I saw were women) might actually do a fantastic job. Consumption of corporate goods is a huge facet of our lives and we should be taught how to do it. Doing it poorly causes a lot of trouble. But supposing most parents don’t seize on this as the teaching opportunity it is?

Left on default, the training is constructed mainly by the store. They provide the carts of course, so that children can be so very proud of their participating in the shopping process. The provide the environment (which is in no way different from the environment adults have, except that it’s viewed from a little lower.) Okay, that isn’t actually detailed construction. The store is suggesting the game, that’s true, but is doing little to run it. “One day I’ll grow up and be a consumer too!” It’s true. But the unspoken addendum is “One day I’ll grow up and be a consumer who passively accepts the consumption/production paradigm I was born into! I’m being enculturated!” But of course enculturation is almost a synonym for well-adjusted. Ah well. But I’d rather we didn’t play games that made children enthusiastic about it. Much better to be resigned. At least playing monopoly teaches you to want to be in charge.

But I’m no longer convinced that the carts are a horrible thing. I’ve talked it through to myself, on this screen, after people IRL called me a crazy marxist even though I’m not a marxist. I see the potential for redeeming social value. It was simply the symbolism of a child walking around with “customer in training” that got me. Like a line from my own fantasy, or a cut scene from “They Live.” I glanced around wildly for Roddy Piper beating up aliens.

I don’t know. I don’t have kids. I dislike concluding without really observing. Do the carts really bring the child into the decision making process? Is my initial slack jawed astonishment the right reaction? Or am I off my rocker entirely?

[lesmenoweth]

*ONE BELL*