Exhibit 23.1






                          Independent Auditors' Consent


The Board of Directors
Whole Foods Market, Inc.:

We consent to  incorporation  by reference in the  registration  statements (No.
333-11271,  No.  333-11273,  No. 333-35809,  No. 33-79072,  No. 33-68362 and No.
33-48392) on Form S-8,  and the  registration  statements  (No.  333-51419,  No.
333-968,  No.  333-43555  and No.  333-27745) on Form S-3 of Whole Foods Market,
Inc. of our report dated November 20, 1998, relating to the consolidated balance
sheets of Whole Foods Market, Inc. and subsidiaries as of September 27, 1998 and
September  28, 1997,  and the related  consolidated  statements  of  operations,
shareholders'  equity and cash  flows for each of the fiscal  years in the three
fiscal-year  period  ended  September  27,  1998,  which  report  appears in the
September 27, 1998 annual report on Form 10-K of Whole Foods Market, Inc.



/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
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KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Austin, Texas
December 21, 1998