Austin, TX (August 8, 2008) –
Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFMI), the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket, has been celebrating summer eating across America with “Destination Summer,” a summer taste tour and journey of local flavors from coast to coast. As part of this culinary road trip, Whole Foods Market hosted an online sweepstakes to win Weber Grills and Farm Aid 2008* concert tickets, among other gifts. Nearly 18,000 shoppers entered to win the Destination Summer sweepstakes at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide.
First-prize winner Kathie Bierly won an exclusive VIP trip for two to Farm Aid’s upcoming 2008 concert in Mansfield, Mass., an annual music event that benefits America’s family farmers. A dedicated Whole Foods Market shopper, Bierly is an artist who often incorporates recycled materials into her sculptures, and her husband Robert works at a farm supply store in their hometown of Paris, Missouri. As a longtime fan and supporter of Farm Aid and the owner of a century-old farm, “We’re really looking forward to the Farm Aid concert. I think it’s a really great cause, and we’re thankful to Whole Foods Market not only for this fun opportunity to attend the concert, but also for its support of family farms,” Bierly says.
In addition to Bierly, 12 second-prize winners will receive a Weber “Performer Grill®” Charcoal Grill, perfect for cooking up some of Whole Foods Market’s delicious “Destination Summer” recipes like maple bourbon planked salmon, marinated meat-and-veggie kabobs and grilled peaches. Recipes for these and many other summer time treats are available at www.wholefoodsmarket.com.
Furthermore, 25 lucky third-prize sweepstakes winners will receive a copy of the exciting new cookbook by Food Network’s grill expert Bobby Flay, Bobby Flay’s Grill It!.
Destination Summer is yet another example of Whole Foods Market’s commitment to support local farmers and producers. As part of this mission, the Company limits the portion of produce purchased at the national level, with a goal of having 20 percent supplied by local sources. Whole Foods Market also empowers individual store and regional buyers to participate in “back-door buying,” which allows small-scale producers to sell products to an individual store, rather than forcing them to funnel products through a national distribution system. In addition, Whole Foods Market recently created the $10 million Local Producer Loan Program, which has already awarded more than $1 million in low-interest loans to local growers, harvesters and producers in 12 states.
* Farm Aid 2008 Presented by Whole Foods Market and Horizon Organic