UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- It's a store that entices customers with a big selection, high-quality food and a variety of wines. But is Whole Foods too big for your budget?

Merilyn Burns of the Whole Foods in University Heights gave NewsChannel5's Joy Benedict the Whole Foods Value Tour.

Whole Foods offers Value Tours free to the public from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month, so the next one is Nov. 19. In addition to bargain-shopping tips, there are samples and free goodie bags for all participants.

Burns tells shoppers to pick up coupons when they walk in to catch some of the great deals they have weekly. The week Benedict visited, avocados were only 99 cents and the produce section was packed full of fruits and veggies at comparable prices. And the produce department has an added value with pictures of local farmers hanging from the ceilings and signs boasting 196 organics.

"We do not allow anything artificial in any of our foods," said Burns.

Sampling is encouraged in this store so you can try before you buy.

Whole Foods also boasts its own brand, 365. You'll find it throughout the store, from green beans to gravy, all for $1.

Whole Foods carries the organic philosophy, which includes the wine section. For example, the brand that made the store's top 10 holiday wine list is from Parducci, called Sustainable White. Parducci Wine Cellars is the nation's first carbon-neutral winery, after converting to a 100 percent green power platform that includes solar and wind power.

Of course, like in any health food store, the best prices will be found on more non-traditional items like Kashi cereal, meatless turkey for $1, and soy or lactose-free milk.

Mark Leopold shops at Whole Foods on a regular basis because of the health food staples.

"My daughter has to have a low-protein diet," said Leopold.

Whole Foods also offers a lot of time-saving value. It has an extensive ready-to-bake meat section, a restaurant, and a prepared food section that looks more like a buffet. Foods are $7.99 a pound with everything from brisket to tofu.

If there is something you want, but don't need the entire amount, like a block of cheese or loaf of bread, you can ask them to give you half the amount.

Many customers shop at Whole Foods because of the company's push to be more environmentally friendly. It is in the process of replacing traditional plastic and paper prepared food containers with all-natural fiber packaging that is biodegradable.

Its truck fleet is being gradually converted to biodiesel fuels, reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. The trucks are also being fitted with aerodynamic aprons to cut down on wind resistance for less fuel consumption.

Several times a year, stores hold community giving days, also known as 5 Percent Days. The store donates 5 percent of that day's net sales to a local nonprofit or educational organization.