Local Loan Recipients: Southwest

Whole Foods Market's Southwest Region includes Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

Adams Blackland Prairie

Ladonia, Texas

Since 1986, Wesley and Kelly Adams have operated a family farm where they raise pasture-fed beef. They believe the unique blackland soil provides for the special quality and full flavor of their beef, since healthy soil is the basis of plant, animal, and, ultimately, human health. All animals in their grazing program are raised on pasture from birth, with no supplements. Wesley and Kelly provide their animals with high-quality forage and tend them with stress-reducing techniques. They use no growth hormones, dewormers, pesticides, or antibiotics.

In 2002, they formed a Holistic Resource Management (HRM) plan in keep with their goal to be humane, responsible, environmentally-sustainable, and financially-successful farmers. Adams Blackland Prairie is a member of the Grassfed Livestock Alliance and a recipient of the USDA's Conservation Security Program. The Adamses has received three loans through the Local Producer Loan Program, all of which have been used to purchase grassfed heifers, to be sold when at their final weight.

Blumetti's Gourmet Foods

Rockwall, Texas

Blumetti's uses family recipes in micro-batches to achieve authentic, home-cooked Italian flavor for its three gourmet, all-natural pasta sauces. This Texas-based company is ten years old and is owned Jim Blumetti. The sauces are distributed nationally and can be found in several Whole Foods Market regions. Blumetti's also makes the in-house pizza sauce for our Southwest region stores.

The company used the loan proceeds to finalize and roll out three new sauces to be sold at Whole Foods Market. We are excited about this product line expansion and about working with one of our long-time suppliers!

Watch a video of Jim Blumetti on our blog as he discusses his philosophy and plans for his business.

Holy Cow Beef

Graham, Texas

Ann and Weldon Warren of Holy Cow Beef are new ranchers who sold their first pasture-raised animals in 2006. They operate an Angus cow/calf operation, where they employ low-stress management techniques and use no hormones or antibiotics on their animals. They believe in being good stewards of their grazing acreage, using rotational grazing and no pesticides.

Holy Cow Beef, a member of the Grassfed Livestock Alliance, has received two loans under the Local Producer Loan Program, both of which were used to purchase grassfed heifers, which will then be sold when they are at their finished weight.

Progress Coffee

Austin, Texas

Joshua Bingaman started Progress Coffee, an East Austin café, in 2004, when he and his wife Sarah moved to Austin. In addition to the storefront, Progress wholesales its fair-trade, organic coffee, which is roasted by hand in small batches. In 2008, they started selling bags of coffee to our Lamar store in Austin.

Joshua will be using the loan to purchase a weigh and fill machine, a roaster, and two grinders, which will help Progress to increase their volume and sell to additional customers.

Skin Organics

Austin, Texas

Ann Webb’s relationship with natural beauty products started in her small hometown in Louisiana, where as a young woman, she couldn’t find the products that she needed to treat her acne problems. Her struggle led to an interest in skin care and an eventual career as an esthetician. Ann now owns a clinic in Austin, where she first started developing her all-natural cleansers, exfoliants, and moisturizers, sold as Skin Organics.

Ann will be using her loan funds to fund the expansion of her retail skin care line, exclusive to Whole Foods Market.

The Sticky Toffee Pudding Company

Austin, Texas

Tracy Claros, a native of the Lake District in England, has been in Austin baking English-style puddings since 2003. And we're certainly pleased about that, because her products are outstanding! Don't just take our word for it — her English Lemon Pudding was selected as the winner in the 2007 Fancy Food Show (NASFT) competition for "Outstanding Baked Good." Although her desserts are currently sold in eight Whole Foods Market regions, this lifelong baker still makes her puddings by hand.

Tracy used the loan to purchase a tray sealing machine, which allowed her to reduce her labor costs and increase her volume.

Vital Farm

Austin, Texas

Matthew O'Hayer started Vital Farm, an organic pastured egg producer, in 2007. The farm is located on 27 acres along Onion Creek in South Austin. He'll be using the loan funds to purchase equipment which will let him increase the size of his operation by 120%.

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