Emeryville, Calif. (June 27, 2014) – On Wednesday, July 2, Whole Foods Market shoppers will help fund 40 grants for local food and body care product makers based in Northern California and Reno to develop their business – one for each of the region’s 40 stores. This is the first time the company has implemented a grant program. Stores will fund the grants by donating five percent of the day’s total sales, and Bay Area microlending nonprofit Working Solutions will administer them.
Members of each store’s community selected the 40 winners via Facebook, from among more than 300 initial applicants. To qualify, applicants had to grow or make their product in Northern California or Reno, meet Whole Foods Market’s quality standards, and earn, on average, a maximum of $100,000 in annual revenue. Applicants did not have to already be a Whole Foods Market supplier, and the company is not requiring winners to take on a more long-term relationship with the retailer following their receipt of grant money (Whole Foods Market is open to the conversation, though).
It is expected that each grant will total between $3,000 and $7,000 – enough to conduct a food safety audit, earn Organic certification, go through the Non-GMO Project verification process, or buy a batch of raw ingredients.
More information is online at localfoodmakergrant.com. For other facts about Whole Foods Market’s long-standing commitment to supporting local producers, visit wholefoodsmarket.com/local.
The winners are, by store:
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Whole Foods Market Sacramento |
Simply Manna – sustainably grown gourmet mushrooms |
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Whole Foods Market Blithedale |
Jammit Organics – jams sweetened with apple juice |
|
Whole Foods Market Blossom Hill |
Carolieta’s Organic Kitchen – organic catering |
|
Whole Foods Market Berkeley |
The Mead Kitchen – purveyors of fine artisanal meads |
|
Whole Foods Market Capitola |
In The Breadbox – gluten free, dairy free bakery/catering |
|
Whole Foods Market 2001 Market Street |
Yum Yum Tonics – tonics, syrups and drinking vinegars |
|
Whole Foods Market Campbell |
Snake & Butterfly – organic, fair trade gourmet chocolates |
|
Whole Foods Market Coddingtown |
Chalk Hill Cookery – plant based cuisines and cooking classes |
|
Whole Foods Market Davis |
Stone Soup Catering – fresh, seasonal catering with options for special diets |
|
Whole Foods Market Folsom |
South Fork Farm – certified organic farm and bakery |
|
Whole Foods Market Fremont |
Jellicles Inc. – Sunol farm and raw wildflower honey |
|
Whole Foods Market Franklin |
Nosh This – gourmet candies and chocolates (makers of the infamous “bacon crack”) |
|
Whole Foods Market Fresno |
RawFresno – raw veggie, fruit and nut products |
|
Whole Foods Market Oakland |
Bubble Farm Soap Co. – beeswax/honey soaps, salves, salts |
|
Whole Foods Market Lafayette |
Hollie's Homegrown – herbs, teas, herbal body and bath products |
|
Whole Foods Market Los Altos |
Strike Brewing Company – session style and high gravity beers |
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Whole Foods Market Los Gatos |
DrinkDrop – easy, natural, single-serving cocktail mixes |
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Whole Foods Market Mill Valley |
Nunkui Cakes – elegant, “not too sweet” gluten free chocolate cakes |
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Whole Foods Market Monterey |
Super Natural Foods Company – vegan, gluten free snacks |
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Whole Foods Market Noe Valley |
Sal De Vida Gourmet – culinary salts, rice mixes, spreads and confections |
|
Whole Foods Market Novato |
Farmer Joy |
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Whole Foods Market Napa |
Plumeria Flours – Hawaiian-inspired cookies and confections |
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Whole Foods Market Ocean |
Bini's Kitchen – Nepalese cuisine from the soul |
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Whole Foods Market Palo Alto |
Root Down Farm – Collaborative duck and flower farmers |
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Whole Foods Market Petaluma |
Weirauch Farm & Creamery – organic cow cheese, farmstead sheep cheese, sheep milk soap |
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Whole Foods Market Potrero Hill |
Indian Bento – Indian food with a street-smart twist |
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Whole Foods Market San Ramon |
JK Naturals – organic, hand-crafted soap and skin care |
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Whole Foods Market Redwood City |
Spread the Love – organic jams and jellies made in a home kitchen |
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Whole Foods Market Reno |
Bigtruck Brand – custom, “sew on site” trucker hats |
|
Whole Foods Market Roseville |
Two winners: |
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Whole Foods Market Sebastopol |
The Kefiry – non-dairy kefir fermented beverages |
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Whole Foods Market San Mateo |
Sprogs Fresh – savory and sweet rice “scooters” |
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Whole Foods Market Sonoma |
Milk & Honey Ice Cream – seasonal gourmet ice creams |
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Whole Foods Market SOMA |
Sugarfoot Grits – cheese grits with bacon, pork belly and/or greens |
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Whole Foods Market San Rafael |
Toluma Farms & Tomales Farmstead Creamery – dairy, organic farm and creamery |
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Whole Foods Market Santa Rosa |
Oz Family Farm – farm-raised rabbit |
|
Whole Foods Market Stevens Creek |
Three winners: |
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Whole Foods Market Haight |
Crumble & Whisk – seasonal and original cheesecakes |
|
Whole Foods Market Santa Cruz |
Friend in Cheeses Jam Co – organic, gluten free jams in unique and original flavors |
|
Whole Foods Market Walnut Creek |
Body by Bees – natural handmade soaps, scrubs, salts, sugar polishes and skin care |
