Whole Foods Market

My classmate suggested me look at actions of Whole Foods Market for supporting locally grown foods. So, I have visited one store and their website, and there were interesting findings.

The first thing surprising me was a demonstration booth by a "local" family management store. While I was walking around the store, there was a small booth serving free samples of Hummus dip. That Hummus jar was a little bit expensive than any others in the store; however, their Hummus dips were all handmade and amazingly delicious! They provided me not only free samples and a business card but many information about their products and store, like how they make these Hummus dips, where their original store are located, and how long they can sell their items at Whole Foods Market (this was a temporally booth.) Unfortunately, I could not buy it that day but decided to visit their store when I become craving for their Hummus. (Actually, I can visit their store anytime I want because it is local!!) LOVE&HUMMUS

The next finding was the tags indicating local foods. (This is the reason why my classmate suggested me check out the store.) All products grown and produced locally was tagged like the following picture. So, the customer does not have to see small details of a label but just look at the whole shelf of the items they want to purchase and choose local ones if they want!

On their website WholeFoodsMarket, they state how the market supports local farmers. They determine what is "local" and explain us the benefits of locally grown foods.

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What is local?
Local produce is by definition seasonal. In spring in California, that means artichokes; summer in Michigan means blueberries and autumn in Washington means apples. We value this natural diversity, and each of our 11 regions has its own firm guidelines for using the term "local" in our stores. While only products that have traveled less than a day (7 or fewer hours by car or truck) can even be considered for "local" designation, most stores have established even shorter maximum distances. Ask a team member for your store's definition of "local."

The Benefits

There are as many reasons for supporting "locally grown" as there are farmers, but here are the most important ones:

A Friendly and Fresh Connection
Supporting local farm production puts a "face" behind the foods we consume and keeps us connected to the seasons, as well as the unique flavor and diversity of local crops.

Local Means Green
Buying produce from local growers reduces the environmental impact and costs of transporting product.

Preserving Character
Small local farms are a valuable component of a community's character, helping maintain agricultural heritage, preserve land use diversity, and moderate development.

Crop Diversity and Quality
Many farmers producing for a local market choose to diversify, growing a variety of crops instead of just one. This is a boon for biodiversity and your palate, since local crops are harvested at their peak of freshness and flavor.

Local Means Green — Again
Minimizing handling and transportation costs gives farmers maximum return on their investment. And most of the money spent on local production stays in the community, "greening up" the local economy.
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As their action for supporting local farmers, they offer "Local Producer Loan Program."
Details: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/values/local-producer-loan-program.php