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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
It is important for us to support local businesses because these businesses are the parents of our childrens friends!
We need to seek out local small businesses for our needs because if we live local and shop local we grow as one family!
03/16/2011 4:11:03 PM CDT
Because local is supporting us. Local is supporting me. People caring about what we eat, where it comes from, what's in it for Petra's sake!
Plus, they're getting more creative than ever. Who is your farmer, producer, dairy, baker, anyway? Thanks and yum!
03/16/2011 4:11:11 PM CDT
I'm always happy supporting local businesses especially ones like Michele's Granola!!!
03/16/2011 4:11:20 PM CDT
Industrial foods and industrial food production are getting so out of hand. We gotta get back to human scale, local scale wherever and whenever possible - for our bodies, our souls, our communities, our future.
03/16/2011 4:11:31 PM CDT
I get the freshest ingredients--and get to support my own community. I feel like I have a part of the business as my support actually matters! Shouldn't everyone want to shop local?!
03/16/2011 4:11:31 PM CDT
local produce is fresher and tastier and gives organic farmers a chance to get a reputation and it also saves on the price and gives our own farmer neighbors a boost!
03/16/2011 4:11:43 PM CDT
My children and I love to see that farmers in our area -- some of whom we actually know and are in school with their children -- have grown this beautiful food for all of us. We know it's grown with love and care, and is the freshest, most nutritious food available for our table.
03/16/2011 4:11:49 PM CDT
because they make the yummiest honey EVER!
03/16/2011 4:11:58 PM CDT
Local is always the BEST!
03/16/2011 4:12:03 PM CDT
I absolutely LOVE buying from local producers! Sadly, our season is so short here in Michigan. I try to take fully advantage of it when I can. I feel it not only saves money and wasted costs, but creates economy right here in Michigan. We are family and I am loyal to that as much as I can be! Thank you local producers!
03/16/2011 4:12:11 PM CDT
Local foods are the way to go. It's not just about food: it's about community and supporting local families! There is something ancient and comforting about meeting the person who grows your food! You can see for yourself that they are being treated fairly and ethically, and there is no mystery about how and where and by whom your food was produced. Being a local farmer is a noble, wonderful career that helps make families and communities healthy!
03/16/2011 4:12:20 PM CDT
Buying local is responsible and helps to support the community! Do it!!
03/16/2011 4:12:24 PM CDT
I love local producers because the product is fresher, tastes better and supports my local businesses. Thanks!
03/16/2011 4:12:37 PM CDT
Local producers help me live my values and beliefs that I cannot change the big world but I can do a lot to make my neighborhood, city and state a better place for all by supporting local businesses and producers.
03/16/2011 4:12:39 PM CDT
Food from my local producers always tastes fresh! and I feel better knowing I am helping reduce the carbon footprint!
03/16/2011 4:12:40 PM CDT
Local makes the world go 'round!
03/16/2011 4:12:51 PM CDT
I love buying local. I feel great about supporting my local vendors, and know that I have the freshest possible food for my family's table :-)
03/16/2011 4:12:57 PM CDT
I love to help our local producers, and why not?
The products are organic, healthy and a good quality. When I shop I make sure the products are local, and then choose to purchase.
03/16/2011 4:12:58 PM CDT
I love local producers b/c the QUALITY is often so much higher than the mass produced item most similar, because I KNOW where it came from, and because I LOVE a good story about where it came from or what inspired it!
03/16/2011 4:12:59 PM CDT
Yummy, makes me hungry!
03/16/2011 4:13:02 PM CDT
I love local producers because I know I'm buying products from people who care about the community. Growing up, my mom would always point out how the owners of local restaurants would feed their families at their restaurants, but you never saw McDonalds execs eating at McDonalds!
03/16/2011 4:13:06 PM CDT
It's Fresh!!
03/16/2011 4:13:06 PM CDT
I live a green lifestyle, and always support my local growers & shops! This is important to sustain how I live, receive the best nutrition, and give back to my community!
03/16/2011 4:13:09 PM CDT
Kudos to you, Whole Foods. I wish others would follow you lead. I love local producers because their goods are of high quality and budget friendly.
03/16/2011 4:13:18 PM CDT
Love local because the products are made by people who care about quality and customer service.
03/16/2011 4:13:19 PM CDT