Buyer Aware

Going to the grocery store these days often leads to sticker shock. Add organic, healthful, and local products to the mix, and the price tag might trigger a cardiac arrest. That's why we couldn't resist checking out the Whole Foods budget value tour, offered monthly at the Mt. Washington location (1330 Smith Ave., 410-532-6700) or by request. Somehow Whole Foods and cost saving don't seem to go together. "It's a perception," says Molly Kushner, the store's marketing specialist and tour cheerleader. "Once they come in to our store and see our prices, they love it." The hour-long, free exploration, guided by the effervescent Kushner, unveils special deals, recipes, eat-for-less strategies, and freebies. Customers leave wiser—and also stocked with complementary items to try.