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The Official Whole Foods Market® Blog
Help Us Celebrate $4 Million and Counting!
| Meet the Blogger | More Posts by Liz Burkhart
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS. CONGRATULATIONS TO TARA FROM ANN ANBOR, MICHIGAN! SHE'S THE WINNER OF THE LOCAL PRODUCT GIFT BASKET!
Good news – as of this week, Whole Foods Market has funded $4 million in low-interest loans for small, local producers through our Local Producer Loan Program!
Even better news – that money has helped our neighborhood farmers, bakers, artisans, mom-and-pop shops (you name it) grow their businesses and bring hundreds of high quality products into our stores for our customers to enjoy.
The best news – to celebrate the milestone, we're giving away a basket full of goodies made by some of our loan recipients! It's simple. Just enter a comment below by March 22nd telling us why you love your local producers and you have a chance to win! We’ll choose one lucky comment at random to receive the basket.
Why did we start the Local Producer Loan Program? Whole Foods Market recognizes that small businesses (even with high quality products and a viable business plan) sometimes need a hand to reach their big dreams. So in 2007, we launched the Local Producer Loan Program with a commitment to fund up to $10 million dollars in low-interest loans. After all, it's our hard-working local producers and their unique offerings that give each of our stores its one-of-a-kind flavor and pizzazz.
Check out what's in this bountiful basket. And remember, since these products are made by local stars from all across the country, you may not be able to find them at your local store. All the more reason to post your comment by March 22nd for a chance to give these great local favorites a try.
- Laughing Giraffe – three bags of raw granola (Cranberry Orange, Cherry Ginger, Vanilla Almond Snackaroons)
- Gourmet Foods – one jar of Zesty Marinara Sauce
- Revolution Foods – two Jammy Sammy Sandwich Bar packs
- Progress Coffee, Inc. – one bag of Mohawk Coffee Beans
- Alaska's Bakery – one bag gourmet peanut butter doggie biscuits
- Skin Organics – body lotion (unscented) and Citrus Ginger hand lotion
- Righteously Raw – five organic chocolate bars (Acai, Maqui, Chocolate, Goji and Caramel)
- Michele's Granola – two bags of granola (Pumpkin Spice and Original)
- Whale Tails Tortilla Chips – one bag of tortilla chips
- Lydia's Organics — one bag of Berry Good Cereal and two boxes of crackers (Italian and Green) and two vegan bars (Spirulina and Cacao Crunch)
6,387 Comments
Comments
I love local because it keeps my family employed, my community strong and my children healthier. Better food, less pollution for transporting, and we get to know WHERE IT CAME from.....
Love the Local Producer Loan program, we need more retailers like you to keep America strong and employed.
Thanks!!!
03/21/2011 12:01:14 PM CDT
Eating local saves farmland.
03/21/2011 12:36:05 PM CDT
would love this. I Love whole foods!
03/21/2011 12:40:58 PM CDT
Local produce is always so much more fresh and yummy than produce that is shipped from far away.
03/21/2011 12:54:33 PM CDT
Buying local just feels good and it's an easy way to teach my daughter about giving back to the community.
03/21/2011 1:19:24 PM CDT
It's a no brainer--fresher food, supports local farmer, smaller carbon footprint. It's a win win for everyone!
03/21/2011 1:49:28 PM CDT
I love all your healthy snacks that I buy at night when walking through South Miami.
03/21/2011 1:50:08 PM CDT
I like buying locally because you know where you food came from and you're supporting smaller business more and big corporations less.
03/21/2011 1:58:12 PM CDT
Fresher food, better environmental stewardship, supporting the local economy... what's not to like?
03/21/2011 2:27:49 PM CDT
I love being able to have such variety and selection of great food from this program at Whole Foods…thank you for supporting our local growers and helping the communities…
03/21/2011 2:39:12 PM CDT
I love Whole Foods and I want to support local producers because they supply fresh produce and products and they need and deserve our support
03/21/2011 2:47:26 PM CDT
Local produce is much fresher and taste better!
03/21/2011 2:56:22 PM CDT
Food is healthier, shopping is easier, local farms are supported! win win!!
03/21/2011 2:58:51 PM CDT
I love being able to support and buy from local companies. The food is always the freshiest around and you're helping people in your community.
03/21/2011 3:09:16 PM CDT
Three things 1* taste 2* support local economy 3* save on carbon emissions from transport :)
03/21/2011 3:27:51 PM CDT
My two cents, keeping it local helps the local farmer, small business'. Where else can you get huge golden beets, the size of apples, watermelon radishes (so yummie) and I met a farmer who had the tastiest tomato's grown in Homestead Florida from New Jersey Tomato seeds. Enough said. . .
03/21/2011 3:28:09 PM CDT
Local, organic and in season is the only way to go!!!!!!!!
03/21/2011 3:55:01 PM CDT
Local produce taste much better! Freshness is everything.
03/21/2011 4:21:35 PM CDT
Because I love supporting local farmers and producers; local tastes better; and buying local is buying green.
03/21/2011 4:49:45 PM CDT
Love the local producers as the nutrients in the food don't have as much time to get lost during the LONG trip that foods grown elsewhere take from overseas or across country. Fresher food is better for you.
03/21/2011 4:52:51 PM CDT
Local is fresher, tastier, retains more nutrients, supports my neighbors and community, and requires less energy for shipment.... Thanks WF!
03/21/2011 4:58:44 PM CDT
When I changed my eating habits..I literally changed my life. I eat as close to the vine as possible and local growers have the freshest produce available on the market today. It is grown locally so from the time it is picked until it reaches your plate is considerably shorter than purchasing from a larger store where all items are shipped in. I would much rather support a local grower and put my money where my mouth is!!
03/21/2011 5:11:53 PM CDT
I love that Whole Foods supports local and small businesses--this helps the community, cuts down on shipping and pollution, and it gives the local small business a chance at doing their thing. Yeah!
03/21/2011 5:13:24 PM CDT
I love local because it is fresh (no need to transport far) and helps the community. I also love local honey because it helps my seasonal allergies!
03/21/2011 6:38:44 PM CDT
Buying local supports the local economy, is better for the environment, and provides me with food that's fresher, better tasting, and more nutritious!
03/21/2011 7:18:47 PM CDT