Whole Story

The Official Whole Foods Market® Blog

Win Your Valentine a Gift that Gives Back

By Liz Burkhart, February 1, 2011  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Liz Burkhart
Celebrate Valentine’s Day by giving gifts that give back, helping spread that V-Day love around the world. Through fair prices, direct trade, community development and environmental stewardship, gifts of Whole Trade and Fair Trade treats add a new meaning to the old saying: “it’s the thought that counts.” Yes, it’s the thought…the thought that every purchase supports the workers and communities that produce the item you’re buying. From flowers and chocolates to wines and unique snacks, you can find a bundle of treats for your valentine. And to spread a little love around ourselves, we’re giving away five gift baskets full of socially responsible goodies. Why? Because it feels good to give gifts that give back! We’re giving away five baskets filled with Whole Trade and Fair Trade treats – from milk chocolate hearts and chocolate dipped bananas to cinnamon sugar drizzled popcorn and dark chocolate granola. Just enter a comment below by February 10th telling us what makes your Valentine special. Whether it’s your sweetie or your grandma, we want to hear it all! We’ll choose five comments at random to receive a Valentine gift basket. And one of the lucky winners will also receive a $150 Whole Foods Market gift card to use to purchase a few bouquets of our beautiful Whole Trade roses, Fair Trade wines or ingredients for a home-cooked dinner for two. Here's the list of goodies you can look forward to in this basket of love. Even if you don’t win a basket from us, you can surprise your valentine with a sweet and meaningful treat! 365 Everyday Value Organic Swiss Milk and Dark Chocolate Bars - Every bite is not only creamy and smooth–but responsible, too. All of our chocolate bars carry the Whole Trade™ Guarantee that ensures more money to the producers, better wages for workers and sustainable farming in the Dominican Republic where the beans are grown. Divine Chocolate Milk Chocolate Hearts and Bars - Divine’s cocoa beans are carefully fermented and dried by the farmers who co-own the company. When consumers purchase Divine Chocolate products for their loved ones, they're doing a good thing for the farmers in Ghana by ensuring that they receive a Fair Trade price for their cocoa beans. Theo Organic Chocolate Bars in three classic flavors - Orange Dark Chocolate, Cherry & Almond Dark Chocolate and Chile Spice - with outstanding taste and ethically, sustainably production practices. Kopali Organic Dark Chocolate Bananas - perfectly sweet and rich, irresistibly luscious, and 100% organic.  And if that were not enough, with your purchase you join Kopali in directly supporting sustainable farmers and Fair Trade. Popcorn Indiana Whole Trade Cinnamon Sugar Drizzled Kettlecorn – sinfully smooth white chocolate drizzled, all-natural, hand-crafted, taste-bud rocking Cinnamon Kettle corn developed in partnership with Whole Foods Market using organic sweeteners, flavors and spices. Nature's Path's Organic Love Cruncha delicious dark chocolate granola developed exclusively with Whole Foods Market. Best part?  For every box sold, Nature's Path will donate $1 to Whole Planet Foundation to help women lift themselves out of poverty. Remember, tell us about your Valentine by February 10th!

 

1,764 Comments

Comments

Lisa Casey says ...
My special Valentine is my husband, Mike. He is special because he always supports me, no matter what. He is always on my side. He's kind and fun and helps me when needed. He never stops me from pursuing anything I want to do. And most of all, he makes me laugh. Even when we are going through the worst of times, he can always make me laugh!
02/08/2011 4:24:36 PM CST
Henry Yang says ...
My Valentine is my future to be wife. She's the nicest 1st grade teacher in the world, and is always willing to lift up others with a positive attitude. Flowers and chocolates are her favorites!
02/08/2011 4:26:07 PM CST
Harini Prasad says ...
My mother is my valentine, this year and every other. No matter how old I am, whenever I am home, my mom squeezes fresh orange juice for me with my breakfast because she knows this is my favorite way to start the day. Every day, I get the… “Have you eaten enough” and the “Do you take care of yourself” speeches. You would think that this would get old, but it is just a reminder that I am loved and cared for and I would not change it for the world. When anything happens in my life, good or bad, the first person I share it with is my mother. Because when something good happens, there is no one in the world who thinks I deserve it more. When something bad happens, there is no one else in the world who will listen better, try to help in any way she can and most importantly lead me in the right direction. I can’t imagine a day without her and am soo thankful for the million things she does without even thinking that shows me how loved and lucky I am. I can only hope that when I have children they can feel this loved.
02/08/2011 4:26:08 PM CST
Suzy Meyer says ...
My Valentine is my boyfriend of a little over a year. He came into my life at the right time. After dating so many guys that treated me with such disrespect, I finally found the perfect guy. He's a perfect gentleman, holds doors and treats me like a princess. Plus he cooks for me and doesn't let me in the kitchen.
02/08/2011 4:27:29 PM CST
Kristofer Sens says ...
My girlfriend is my valentine. I’ve had a busy schedule working a full time job and juggling my start-up business, which hasn’t left much time for her. She has put up with me during all this and has been so supportive. Every week she spends hours cooking several meals to tie me over for the week. She asks for requests and anything that I ask for, she makes. It is hard to find someone who is kind and giving. I am so lucky to have her as my valentine.
02/08/2011 4:29:20 PM CST
michelle delp says ...
My husband is my Valentine, 25 years!
02/08/2011 4:30:29 PM CST
laura says ...
My valentine is my wonderful, kind, loving and handsome husband! He is special in so many ways!
02/08/2011 4:31:55 PM CST
Jen says ...
My husband Has been my Valentine for 25 years! His heart and his dedication to me and to our family ia unmatched!
02/08/2011 4:33:29 PM CST
Frances Rivera says ...
My honey is someone I have know since I was four. We used to fight together, play together and even get in trouble together. He was my first friend, my only friend and now my best friend. We dated in high school, and although we made separate lives for ourselves, fate found a way to bring us back together. Hopefully this year we will get married. This quote is very true, "If you love something set it free, if it comes back then it is yours, if it doesn't then it never was".
02/08/2011 4:34:04 PM CST
Deb Bailey says ...
This year my valentines are my best friends at college. Being an adult student, they support group of fellow comrades in the classroom, my own age, is invaluable. It is tougher going back in your 40's, we have a life, family, jobs, and our memories are going, and our friends at school ONLY understand the struggle with school work, that no one else can. I can't imagine getting through the semester, year, or degree program with out them - Thanks my dear friends -
02/08/2011 4:42:40 PM CST
Kathy Long says ...
He walks me to the door every morning as I leave for work.
02/08/2011 4:50:07 PM CST
Joyce says ...
Though my Valentine may be thousands of miles away, what makes him special is that he has always loved me for me. We're middle school sweethearts and now both in colleges across the country but we're still going strong despite the distance. <3
02/08/2011 4:50:49 PM CST
Michelle Lee says ...
John is my weird, quirky, special valentine all the way in Chicago. Long distance has its challenges but our times together have been filled with the silliest moments, lots of laughter and delicious food! This is our 2nd year of traveling back and forth from Philly and Chicago; and when we are not together, we fill the space in between with Whole Foods care packages. :)
02/08/2011 4:51:45 PM CST
Maria Hartwell says ...
I am a single mother of 2 girls. One is 17 and the other 4. The 17 year old and I have had a tough year. She has been exploring colleges around the country in an effort to spread her wings and be independent of me. I'm working 2 jobs and parenting a little one, leaving not a lot of attention to the older one. She feels as though I don't give her the attention she wants from me at this time. I try very hard to meet her needs but am so tired when I'm home and not always there for her. I love her and want the best for her. I know she is extremely independent and smart and resourceful. She attends college full time as a senior in high school. This valentines day I want her to be my valentine. I want her to know how much I love her and how important she is to me- even when I'm busy, tired, or not home. Happy Valentine's Day to my daughter, Austyn!
02/08/2011 5:02:16 PM CST
Candace Fish says ...
Who are my valentines? My son and his new bride, Alex and Dawn. My son is a survivor of schizophrenia and his wife, who we consider an angel, will be leaving on their honeymoon for Hawaii next week. My son was diagnosed with the illness at the end of his second year of college. Most doctor's wanted to "write him off", have him sign up for disability, and one even wanted to discharge him into a homeless shelter at Thanksgiving. Well my son proved them they were all wrong. He finished his college degree, lived independently after 7 long years of battle with his illness with his dog named, Cloudy (how appropriate is the name?) and eventually met his bride, Dawn. He has had the appropriate help and medicines and thank God, he is doing exceptionally well. He proved them all wrong and if anyone tells me that people with his illness cannot become productive members of society, I don't believe it. With the right help, right medicines, people living with this illness can overcome it...just ask his beautiful, wife, Dawn who is the angel in our lives...they, together, are my valentines. Happy Valentines Day! God Bless...and please, don't publish this...it is our very own personal story. Thank you, Candace Fish
02/08/2011 5:12:57 PM CST
Andrea Gibbs says ...
My Valentine is special because I have a wonderful family to share it with. Through all the fun and happy times, through all the bad and hard moments we have endured, we stick through it and get to show our love every day and shoot it off with a bang on Valentine Day! Thank you honey for getting up at night to make a baby bottle. Thank you for trying to provide for us. Thank you for keeping strong when I wasn't. Thank you for loving me when I wasn't lovable. Thank you for giving me 2 wonderful girls! Thank you for being you! And thank you ME for marring you :)
02/08/2011 5:21:19 PM CST
Meredith says ...
My valentine this year is my best friend, as we are both happily single for now! She's walked through some of the darkest times of my life and her influence brought me into the Whole Foods family and a healthier lifestyle that has changed me completely. We make day trips to the nearest Whole Foods store together (an hour away) and she has helped me learn new ways to cook and affordable ways to be healthy. Her example and investment in my life has been the catalyst I need for change. We're cooking together with friends and celebrating LIFE and a love for those around us this year, and I couldn't be more thankful for all of it!
02/08/2011 5:21:33 PM CST
Aaron Stenz says ...
My Valentine is my awazing girlfriend Laura. We're celebrating our 2 year anniversary tonight with a special dinner tonight of all organic indgredients from Whole Foods. Aside from being the love of my life and an overall wonderful person, Laura has educated me on many aspects of food, cooking, and organics. I can't imagine a day without her.
02/08/2011 5:32:47 PM CST
Michele says ...
My husband and I have been married for twenty seven years and he still makes me coffee every morning and then starts my car in the freezing cold and since I leave for work before him he sometimes even makes the bed. He brought me flowers every week for about ten years until I pointed out that I would rather have the money than the flowers..haha..I think he is still shocked by that! He is a caring father that is always there for our children when they need him. I am trying to break him of alot of bad eating habits and so far he has liked the quality of Whole Foods and likes shopping there. Thanks Whole Foods for great items hopefully now my wonderful valentine and I will have a longer and healthier life together!
02/08/2011 5:38:00 PM CST
Nick says ...
Love my wife first valentine as married couple!!
02/08/2011 5:45:05 PM CST
Dustin Cary says ...
My Valentine is my wife and the love of my life! We are best friends and enjoy every minute of it!
02/08/2011 5:46:55 PM CST
Sally Tutt says ...
I am so excited to celebrate my 1st Valentine's Day with my new Husband, Steve! Love ya sweets.
02/08/2011 6:04:14 PM CST
cqf says ...
Three of my valentines are my awesome granddaughters, each special and loving in her own way.
02/08/2011 6:13:34 PM CST
Mrs. BP says ...
My Valentines are every one of my 105 Advanced Placement Environmental Science students in my classes. Today we brainstormed a list of sustainable actions we can do for the valentine in our life. My students came up with ideas such as.."Take a walk or nature hike together."...."Give lots of hugs"....."Make a local ingredient dinner"...the list goes on and is "with much sustainable LOVE" posted on the front board! This group of students has a vision of sustainibilty for the future!!!!
02/08/2011 6:18:56 PM CST
Christy J says ...
I've been married to my valentine for 17 years. He's sweet to me by tolerating the paradigm shift I made AFTER we got married when we were first starting a family, and I made my foray into learning more about health, wellness, and the right way to feed growing babies and children. Won't you help me inspire him to make the switch, too? I would love to show him my appreciation with some healthy treats that he would enjoy from this basket!
02/08/2011 6:21:44 PM CST

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