Turns out this whole ban on photography is not a Whole Foods thing; it is a grocery store thing. In pursuit of fairness, I called stores in my area from all the major chains. I spoke with the managers and asked about photography and they all told me if they see anyone taking photos in the store, they “politely” ask them to stop. However, one store manager told me that if I was discreet and didn’t use a flash, no one would probably ever know I was taking them. It seems there are all kinds of legal issues involved with photography - copyright and trademark infringements, not to mention industrial espionage. (Industrial espionage - right in the middle of the toilet paper and cantaloupes?!? Hmmmm—grocery stores seem to be way too public to worry about espionage, but whatever.) About the only grocery store that doesn’t ban photography is the Hong Kong Market. I didn’t call them, but my daughter and I went through there with a digital, flashing photos all over the place and, other than curious stares, didn’t attract any attention.

So my ban on Whole Foods is over before it began. A decades-long habit is too hard to break, I guess. Besides, they are S-O-O-O-O darned convenient to my house!