Finally. A relatively focused run-down on Trader Joe’s astro-turf authenticity. It cracks me up that South Charlotte soccer moms who would not be caught dead at the Aldi’s in Matthews nonetheless flock to the Trader Joe’s near Stonecrest.
“It’s very much a black box, opaque company,” says Greenpeace campaigner Casson Trenor. “It doesn’t participate in industry groups and it’s very hard to get to because it’s impossible to get them to talk on the record.”
In July 2009, Greenpeace waged a war on Trader Joe’s aimed at its seafood purchasing practices. Known as the “Traitor Joe’s” campaign, it resulted in the removal of orange roughy from Trader Joe’s stores last year. That still leaves 14 more red-list seafood species in Trader Joe’s stores, according to Greenpeace.
Horrors!
To me, Trader Joe’s had a place when I lived in Maryland, home of utterly horrible grocery stores. Joe’s weird frozen stuff like pumpkin-stuffed ravioli — yea, that was fun. But I just don’t need Joe here in Charlotte. Or Aldi’s for that matter.
