Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote!  Here are all the wonderful winning photos:

What’s better than dreaming of tasting the fare of far away lands? Actually visiting and trying it for yourself! We want to thank you for sharing your fabulous foodie finds and recipes, and we can’t think of a more appropriate treat than a European culinary fantasy trip come true. Send in a short video (30-60 seconds) telling us why you should win our Foodie Fantasy vacation for a chance at the ultimate prize package – a “Berlin to Paris” trip for two from Intrepid Travel that includes airfare and accommodations plus one $500 American Express gift card and two visits to food artisan hotspots worth writing about!

Simply visit Whole Foods Market on Facebook and click on the Foodie Fantasy contest link on the left to enter your submission. The contest ends March 30, so start dreaming now!

Good luck!

Note: Food bloggers must be active bloggers with a blog that was started at least three (3) months prior to the start of the contest. For complete Official Rules, click here.

In my three years working for Whole Foods Market, I’ve had constant reminders of my good fortune. From working for a company whose values I truly believe in to being mere steps away from the food wonderland we call our flagship store in Austin, TX, I know that I’m one lucky gal.

This summer, I was chosen to participate in the Whole Foods Market Team Member Volunteer Program. Twenty-five team members from stores and offices around the US and Canada were given the opportunity to travel to Guatemala for 2-4 weeks to experience the power of microcredit first-hand, to see where some of our Allegro coffee beans are grown and to volunteer in a rural community, teaching and building stoves.

Not only do I feel fortunate to have been able to spend part of my summer volunteering in Guatemala with the Whole Planet Foundation, but also I’m thankful for the wonderful people with whom I got to share the experience. Here are some words from my fellow Team Members about our journey to Central America.

On microcredit…

One day on the street I was sitting reading the book from Dr. Yunus about Microcredit (Creating a World Without Poverty). A woman approached me to sell some of her textiles, as they often did, and I recognized her from the Grameen meeting earlier in the week so I asked her if she was a member of the group and she was very proud to say yes! She explained that every 15 days she paid 100 Quetzales (about $12) to the bank. “Cada quince dias, cien quetzals! Cien Quetzales! Cien Quetzales!!” She was very enthusiastic and proud. We visited a while on how things were going and she said that things have definitely gotten better for her the last two years since she was a member of the group. It was a beautiful moment- to meet an individual who has benefitted from the work of Dr. Yunus and seeing the efforts of Whole Planet Foundation touch the lives of the poor, empowering them so that they can help themselves. This was one of my favorite experiences. The trip was a great experience to learn fist hand how Whole Planet and microcredit are empowering the poor to help themselves lift themselves up out of poverty.
Julie | South Region

It was so impactful to be able to sit in the microloan center and learn that it existed in Panajachel because of the Whole Planet Foundation. The money that Team Members donate through their paychecks and that the community donates during the campaign are touching lives in this community and around the world.
Grace | Fort Collins, CO

On coffee…

One day, we hiked to a coffee finca where Whole Foods Market sources some of its prime Allegro coffee. We were amazed to learn that the farmers routinely carry 100-pound sacks of fertilizer up the mountainside—at 8,000 ft. elevation—and carry even larger bushels of coffee beans back down! The native Guatemalans I met during this trip were some of the most hardworking and unstoppable people I’ve ever encountered. I was continually amazed by their perseverance and generosity. It made me realize how truly fortunate we are in the United States to have so many resources available to us.
Lauren | Chicago, IL

On the school…

We were set on a mission to help a local elementary school high in the mountains and to build stoves for the family of the children who attend that school. Like all volunteers we showed up eager to do good in the world and to leave some kind of an impression behind. After a few weeks of working with the children and their families you start to wonder who is touching whose life here. What I am trying to say is that this culture has an innocence and openness in the way of connecting that we rarely encounter in the States. We have forgotten sometimes how to really connect and touch others in our daily life.
Robert | Fresh Ponds, MA

On stove building…

Working on the stoves was hard work, but seeing how dire the family’s situation was before the stove was finished, made me glad to do the work, as it improves both their lives and their health. It also made me realize how much I take many of the things in my life for granted, and now that I’m back home, I’ve vowed to appreciate what I have much more.
Danielle | La Jolla, CA

On the experience…

I just feel blessed to be counted as one of the volunteers in Guatemala. I grew up in Guatemala City and had no idea what life was like in the countryside. After just one month there, I learned that it’s the simple things that are the ones that make us happy. I want to thank everyone who went on the trip for taking valuable time from their busy lives to spend in Guatemala with the Whole Planet Foundation.
Gustavo | Boston, MA

We hope that reading a little bit about our experiences in Guatemala has inspired you to give back – whether it be to your local community or your global one.  If you would like to support the efforts our in the Lake Atitlan region of Guatemala, please consider donating to one of these worthwhile causes:

Providing school meals at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Improving school conditions for Mayan children
Building energy efficient stoves

You can also donate directly to the Whole Planet Foundation.  100% of your contribution goes directly towards micro-credit projects!

Thank you!

In just two weeks, customers at 289 stores in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. donated nearly $1.7 million to a variety of relief organizations, including Action Against Hunger, American Red Cross, AmeriCares, Doctors Without Borders, Food for the Poor and Partners in Health.

Whole Foods Market’s Team Members contributed more than $58,400 to a special “Haitian Fund” to support fellow Team Members whose friends and family have been affected by the earthquake. Whole Foods Market has nearly 2,000 Haitian Team Members working in its stores.

Through our Whole Planet Foundation, Whole Foods Market provided $1 million to Fonkoze, allowing the microcredit organization to be among the first to provide banking services to people in Haiti following the earthquake.

Haiti-based Fonkoze serves more than 55,000 women borrowers and 1 million families who receive remittances from relatives and friends abroad, and has been a partner of Whole Planet Foundation since March 2009.  The Whole Planet Foundation contribution allowed Fonkoze to rebuild critical infrastructure and open its branch offices, giving Haitians access to cash, money transfers and much-needed loans to re-establish their businesses.

“Whole Foods Market’s gift is the largest single contribution that Fonkoze has received and more importantly, it was delivered to us less than a week after the earthquake,” says Anne Hastings, director of Fonkoze Financial Services.  “Thanks to this immediate financial assistance, we were the first bank to open in Haiti, allowing us to get much-needed cash to our customers and microloans to members who need to re-establish their businesses. This is a first and major step toward economic recovery for Haiti.”

While not surprised by the out-pouring of cash donations, we are extremely humbled and grateful that our customers and Team Members contributed to help so many others in need. Thank you.

•Posted 1/22/2010•

We are humbled and honored to announce that in one week, Whole Foods Market customers have donated $1 million to Haitian relief efforts. The donation drive will continue through January 31^st. (Read the post below for specifics on the relief organizations we are supporting.)

Additionally, through our nonprofit Whole Planet Foundation, we are doubling our original commitment to now provide $1 million to our on-the-ground microlending partner in Haiti, Fonkoze.  As one of Haiti’s leading microfinance institutions, Fonkoze offers microcredit along with a full range of financial services to the poor and underserved throughout the country.  “Fonkoze is working right now to meet the needs of impoverished Haitians and help them to recover from this devastating disaster,” said Philip Sansone, president and executive director of Whole Planet Foundation. “They are working tirelessly to get basic banking services up and running now, and eventually, will provide Haitians with much-needed loans to reestablish their businesses.”

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Posted 1/15/2010

In the wake of a devastating earthquake in Haiti that has left hundreds of thousands of people homeless and many more deeply affected, our 289 stores in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom have partnered with various disaster relief and humanitarian aide organizations to collect donations at our registers.  Our shoppers can give any amount at the checkouts to directly support several different relief organizations.

In addition, we have created a special “Haitian Fund” to support Team Members who have been affected by the earthquake.

“We have many Team Members from Haiti, and together we are supporting them by taking these steps,” said Walter Robb, co-president and chief operating officer at Whole Foods Market. “We’re also setting up donation boxes in employee areas in stores, facilities and offices.”

Our Team Members across different regions are taking the initiative to help in a number of ways, from collecting clothes and running food drives to putting on fundraising dinners in the stores. We are also looking into other ways to help, including working with vendors to deliver additional food and water to the country, and researching whether we can help Team Member volunteers participate in relief efforts which are going to be needed for the months to come.

Through January 31st, shoppers can conveniently make donations at Whole Foods Market’s registers. Shoppers can contribute $1, $2, $5, $10, or any designated amount to each store’s selected non-profit relief organizations.  These include:

• AmeriCares — Our stores in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Northwest and Southern Pacific regions will give to AmeriCares, a disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization that provides immediate response to those in need of emergency medical treatment.
• Food for the Poor — Our stores in Florida and the Southwest region will give to this Miami-based organization with an infrastructure in Haiti. It is the largest international relief organization in the United States.
• American Red Cross — Our stores in the Northern California, Rocky Mountain and South regions will give to the Red Cross, an emergency response organization that aids victims of devastating natural disasters.
• Partners in Health — Our stores in the North Atlantic region, home to the highest concentration of Haitians in the U.S., will give to this Boston-based organization which brings modern medical care to poor communities in nine countries around the world.
• Doctors Without Borders — Our Toronto-area stores will give to this international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries.
• Action Against Hunger — Whole Foods Market’s United Kingdom stores will give to this organization, which has mounted an emergency response to provide clean water, sanitation equipment and emergency supplies for survivors.

Whole Planet Foundation, our non-profit organization that helps developing countries through microfinance, works with Fonkoze, its trusted on-the-ground partner in Haiti. Fonkoze works to meet the needs of impoverished Haitians and will be helping them recover from this devastating disaster. Fonkoze’s Earthquake News page details the most current information on Fonkoze and their microcredit clients and explains how to designate a donation for earthquake relief.

Thank you all for the outpouring of generosity and we will keep you updated on our efforts.

We want to extend our appreciations to the hundreds of folks who responded to two of our holiday giveaways: Jim Brickman’s Bag of Goodies and Beautiful World.

In all of the holiday madness, we forgot to announce the winners who received Better Bags filled with grocery goodies and Jim Brickman merchandise!  So here’s a quick congratulations to Cathy Price and Robin O’Sullivan.  Keep an eye out for more contests, giveaways and fun promotions coming up throughout the year.

Need some last minute help in ringing in the New Year?  Check out our Champagne Primer to make sure you’re serving the perfect bubbly for your taste and budget.  Having guests over?  Take a look at our Entertaining with Wine and Cheese guide.  And remember, above all else – celebrate safely and responsibly!

It’s that time of year again – when we examine our waistlines and lifestyle choices and set ambitious goals for the New Year. We’ve got lots of suggestions to share throughout the month of January, but we wanted to kick it all off with three very special ones we’re focusing on and a way for you to join in!

Does one of these intentions sound like something you’d like to do in the New Year?

• This is my year to…know where my food comes from.
• This is my year to…choose organic.
• This is my year to…share my plate.

Pretty ambitious, eh? Well, with help from our friends at Odwalla and Health Magazine, Whole Foods Market is going to kick start these three goals by supporting three associated organizations with donations of $10,000 to each.

And here’s how you can join in on the fun. We’ve created a Facebook app called This is My Year to… that gathers support for these organizations from you and your friends. We’re not talking money support here (of course you can make personal donations if you wish!) but simply a click to download the app and your vote for your favorite one. The organization that receives the most support from Facebook users will receive an additional $10,000 donation from us!

Learn more about the Non-GMO Project, The Organic Center’s Mission Organic 2010 and Growing Power below. Then go to the Facebook application and cast your vote. You may vote up to once a day through the end of January.

This is my year to…

• Know Where My Food Comes From: The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit collaboration of manufacturers, retailers, processors, distributors, farmers, seed companies and consumers. The organization’s belief is that everyone deserves an informed choice about whether or not to consume genetically modified products, and the mission is to ensure the sustained availability of non-GMO choices.
• Choose Organic: Mission Organic 2010 (The Organic Center) is an ambitious campaign with an exciting goal: to increase the current market for organic food from 3 percent to 10 percent by the end of 2010. When consumers demand more organic foods, farmers and food companies will supply this growing demand. The result is healthier people and a healthier planet.
• Share My Plate: Growing Power is a national nonprofit organization and land trust supporting people from diverse backgrounds, by providing equal access to healthy, safe and affordable food. Growing Power provides hands-on training, outreach and assistance in developing community food systems that help people grow, process, market and distribute food in a sustainable manner.

Thank you for your support and good luck with accomplishing all of your ambitious goals this coming year!

And without further ado, this week’s randomly selected* winner…

Denice H:

If I am in need of a quick meal, I turn to soup. It is healthy, tastful, and easy. However, all the chopping,washing,peeling of the vegetables can be a pain. Instead I just open a jar of good quality mild salsa and add it to chicken stock. It is a great, quick foundation for many soups. It already has the mirepoix plus a nice small amount of heat.

Denice will be receiving a $100 gift card! We hope you enjoyed “value contest month” on our blog during October. For more giveaways, check out our Facebook Fridays and Twitter Thursdays for more weekly contests throughout the holidays.

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* This comment was randomly chosen using random.org.

Congratulations to our randomly selected* winner…

Docletic:

Pasta Pomodoro in San Francisco bay area has a simple butter sauted bay leaf butternut squash ravioli recipe that I have made at home using store bought Japanese noodle/dumpling dough wraps. I’d love a better recipe. Also, the pomogranate martinis at Longhorns steakhouse – to die for. The cactus pears are good to, but nothing like pomogranate.

Docletic will be receiving a $50 gift card and three of our favorite cookbooks! Keep an eye out tomorrow and all this month for more great value giveaways on The Whole Story!

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* This comment was randomly chosen using random.org.

Congratulations to our randomly selected* winner…

CadesMom:

I love your 365 semi-sweet chocolate chips! I make the 30 mile trip to get them whenever it’s time to bake cookies and brownies. I also buy in bulk! They have the richest, chocolaty-est taste. Wonderful!

CadesMom will be receiving a $50 gift card and a Better Bag loaded with some of our 365 Everyday Value favorites (and her favorite 365 semi-sweet chocolate chips!). Keep an eye out tomorrow and all this month for more great value giveaways on The Whole Story!

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* This comment was randomly chosen using random.org.