That's great news about Whole Foods and Trader Joe's! In fact, my wife and I were wondering why they have not entered the New Hampshire market when we looked up their store locations. We love farmers' markets and autochthonous, locally produced food, too. I think that farmers' markets offer a convenient, efficient means of buying specialty produce and selling the surplus from a garden. I think it would be good for Free Staters to trade, barter, or sell amongst each other when practical and cut out the government's take. This would be especially good for those growing their own- they can focus on growing one crop and trading the surplus for another. Bartering is becoming popular nationwide and it can help to reduce the cost of living. Maybe have a Craig's List like forum for trading?
Whole Foods founder John Mackey is a Libertarian and wrote an interesting article in Liberty, June 2006, Vol. 20 No. 6 available at:
http://libertyunbound.com/archive/2006_06/mackey-winning.html Whole Foods is also near the top of the list of the "Best Places to Work" so, for the self employed or contracting like me, you can have your spouse bag groceries there and be covered with benefits!
Does the Trader Joes in Massachusetts sell wine? I stock up at the Virginia Trader Joe's. I read on one wine retailing website that New Hampshire charges 8% tax on mail order wine. I also make wine and roast coffee so I think I will be all set. Maybe I could barter the surplus.
Aaron- Congratulations on your pending internship at the Foundation for Economic Education. I hope you get it. I attended their seminar on Economics and the Environment in November 1999 when I worked for the Competitive Enterprise Institute. It is true that Organic food is not necessarily good for the environment and health and it can even be worse. The issue is complicated, however. FEE has numerous articles about it and John Stossel did a show about the myth of organic foods in the summer of 2000. He explained that organic foods are not more nutritious and that organic techniques expose the consumer to more bacteria, including E. coli. OTH, the sterile environment of modern life is causing our immune systems to attack itself. There are many pros and cons and I believe that the organic movement is a good thing overall; oppening markets to all kinds of exotic products.
My enthusiasm for organic foods is from a gourmet perspective. I can really taste the difference in something that is fresh and grown using artisan methods. There are so many heirloom varieties and obscure vegetables and animal breeds that are loaded with flavour. There is no comparison and the difference is hard to describe. It does cost more but, if it gets me to eat my veggies, then it is also good for my health. I admire the artistry in growing, producing, and preparing something using traditional techniques even if it is bad for the environment.