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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)
Why do you love your local producers?
March 22nd, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Local is best because you are supporting your neighbors and their efforts to bring something great to us!
March 22nd, 2011 at 4:34 pm
The best thing you can do for your body is to shop fresh, natural and local..it is possible to save dollars when you consider the health benefits for you and your family..and the enormous variety of food and goods made right here in Austin keeps it fun!
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:16 pm
Buying local supports our neighbors and is fresher. I love knowing my food and products are from local suppliers!
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:24 pm
We fell in LOVE with Whole Foods because there food is fresh, and that means LOCAL. We always have a feeling of COMMUNITY, We’re part of something BIG. Thank you WholeFoods
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:29 pm
I love local foods because I’m supporting the local economy, enjoying typically better tasting food, and helping the environment.
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:45 pm
I love eating local from my Whole Foods market because it’s almost like shopping at a farmer’s market all year long. It’s important to me to know that my food was produced by people living just a few cities over – rather than a few states over. People I can see, visit, talk to about their passion for their product made the things I’m buying. I’m supporting my neibors and neighborhood when I buy these things at Whole Foods.
Even more importantly, there is a much smaller impact on the environment when my products are shipped 20 miles as opposed to 2,000 miles.
March 22nd, 2011 at 6:02 pm
It is so nice to meet the producers of locally-produced products in your store. You feel you are buying from a neighbor and helping our local economy.
March 22nd, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Its been my experience all of what is claimed of buying local is true – local food/produce TASTES better, looks BETTER, and FEELS better in the body. Then there is the greater sense that comes along w feeling connected to actual people and places that are real. It’s the best energy.
March 22nd, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Just moved across the country and love local products to feel connected to the community and explore the flavors of my new town!
March 22nd, 2011 at 7:00 pm
I love Whole Foods. It surely reduces our carbon imprint. Buying local keeps us in the green.
March 22nd, 2011 at 7:01 pm
We love local because our area offers such great options for seasonal fruits and veggies, etc. We enjoy seeing our local farm labels in the stores instead of nationally distributed products that tend to grow in more bulk, use more negative control methods such as pesticides. We also love it for the kids to get to see what grows locally and at whole foods we see premium offerings of some of our local produce which teaches us what some of the growth in our garden can look like at optimal growth conditions.
March 22nd, 2011 at 7:21 pm
Buying from LOCAL producers helps strengthen your community, invests your money close to home, allows for a less wasteful food system, and you have low-traveled food, which means your food doesn’t suffer and overall it’s better for the environment
March 22nd, 2011 at 7:37 pm
Aside from it being fresher that imported produce, I love the idea of supporting my local community. I would like to thank Whole Foods for supporting the local economy and for their suppport of Feeding South Florida
March 22nd, 2011 at 8:04 pm
I believe in local for many reasons. One, less carbon imprint. Two, I can support the vitality of the community by purchasing local. Three, products are grown and cared for by people who are working to sustain what is good in our world. Four, I believe we can make a difference by supporting local.
March 22nd, 2011 at 8:15 pm
I love to buy local because the tastes is so much better. It doesn’t have chemicals and it is helping the local community. I love to go to Wholefoods Market and buy the freshest fruits and vegetables.
March 23rd, 2011 at 12:35 am
it gives back to the local community and encourages smaller businesses who might not have a chance otherwise!!
March 23rd, 2011 at 6:38 am
i support my local farmers.
March 23rd, 2011 at 9:11 am
I love buying local for it helps others,you know where its coming from, and its cost effective.
March 23rd, 2011 at 11:10 am
It’s all about location, location, location!
March 23rd, 2011 at 12:22 pm
I love buying local because I know it is fresh, wholesome, and the company’s can be held accountable so they genuinely strive to put forth a quality product.
March 23rd, 2011 at 1:34 pm
You can taste the freshness and appreciat the effort made to bring it to us as natural as possible. Who could go wrong with that? You’re helping locally and thinking globally.
March 23rd, 2011 at 7:38 pm
I love and appreciate the idea of Local Producer Loan Program. I am happy to see it happens and it works. I hope all other groceries follow because they have the lead now. The program stimulates the local economy, great variety produces and help small business. I will shop at a store have this program and support it. I benefit from the great products and know that my money will go to expand the program to benefit others and me. Thank you for the great program and great products
March 23rd, 2011 at 8:34 pm
thanks for making a difference. wow.
March 23rd, 2011 at 9:09 pm
Local is better because it’s more environmentally friendly, it supports families in your neck of the woods, and to top it all off, it’s healthy!
March 24th, 2011 at 12:26 am
It’s time to celebrate and appreciaste those around us that are continuing to serve local food, they use local resources and our feeding our communities. Let’s help our local economies and share our faith that we care about our communities.
March 24th, 2011 at 5:07 am
GREAT FOR MY FAMILY TO ENJOY FRESH HEALTHY LOCAL FOOD.
THANK YOU.
March 24th, 2011 at 7:33 am
I love buying local because I love fresh produce! Food is better when it’s fresh, always! I love supporting local farmers because it’s important to help our community and encourage farmers to continue in their good work!
March 24th, 2011 at 10:51 am
I love buying local because it helps your friends and neighbors stay in business and prosper.
March 24th, 2011 at 11:08 am
Buying local makes good sense.
March 25th, 2011 at 10:04 am
I love buying local because it’s the next best thing to growing in your own backyard
March 25th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
My sweet local producer is doing something for me.I appreciate this.
March 25th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
I love buying local because it supports my neighbors, supports small business and small growers, is fresher, is more environmentally friendly, and for dozens of other reasons, some of which are all about having grown up in a small farm myself. I love Whole Foods for their support of local farmers and local business.
March 26th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
support local farmers.
March 30th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
I like to buy from my local produce companies because I am supporting my local produce farmers. And also it’s more fresh compared to if you buy it in the stores.
May 25th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
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May 31st, 2011 at 5:37 am
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September 10th, 2011 at 9:34 pm
i always support my local farmer
October 13th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
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November 11th, 2011 at 5:54 am
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November 18th, 2011 at 9:16 am
Hello! I love the Parkers Farm Honey Crunchy peanut butter, and they are a local company from Coon Rapids. Thanks for carrying their products!