Locally Grown — Northeast Region

Our Commitment

Whole Foods Market is deeply committed to buying from local producers. We place special emphasis on locally produced foods and are actively searching for goods to add to all of our departments. This includes everything from chips to artisanal cheeses and summer squash to scented soaps. Whole Foods Market knows that by supporting local goods, we ultimately connect people to delicious, nutritious food. We support a better future for local growers and artisans and a better future for our communities.

What Does "Local" Mean

The definition of local can vary widely. Some see "local" as being a very small area as condensed as a neighborhood or as large as an entire region. Local can also be defined by food miles. For instance, a resident of Manhattan may choose cherries grown in Monmouth County, New Jersey, (about 50 miles away) versus Canandaigua, New York, (about 300 miles away). Some supporters of the local food movement insist the goods they buy must be raised, grown, packaged and produced within the borders of what they consider local.

What does "Local" mean to Whole Foods Market's Northeast Region?

Due to our varied growing seasons and the uniqueness of our tri-state area, we sometimes have to reach out of our backyards and search for goods produced in eastern Pennsylvania or the New England states. We ultimately insist that if a product is to be labeled local in our stores, it must come from New York, New Jersey or from Connecticut. We label products from Pennsylvania and New England, "Northeast Grown". Whole Foods Market is also adamant that items fit within two out of three of the following requirements: raised or grown locally, packaged locally, and produced locally.

We'd Love to Work with You

Whole Foods Market is always looking to work with more native growers and producers, if you are interested in selling your product to Whole Foods Market stores in the Northeast Region please contact us at Local.Farmers@WholeFoods.com or at 201-969-0444 ex 331