Help Georgia’s flooded farms

by sandysprings, October 27, 2009 | Permalink

Last Wednesday, October 21st Whole Foods Market, Sandy Springs, along with Whole Foods Markets and Harry’s Farmers Markets across Atlanta, held a 5% Day to raise funds for the Georgia Flooded Farms Relief Fund.  It was a great day, and with your help we raised $23,939!  Thanks so much to everyone who came out and shopped with us - your support of local farmers really makes a difference.

To read more, visit our national blog http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2009/10/help-flooded-georgia-farmers/

DON’T FORGET TO DONATE YOUR DIME!  For the rest of the month, you can choose to donate your $.10 bag refund to the Georgia Flooded Farms Relief Fund - every little bit helps!

Whole Foods Market sponsors a farmers market to help Sandy Springs residents Eat FRESH, Eat LOCAL

by sandysprings, October 2, 2009 | Permalink

Last weekend (September 26-27) we had the honor of sponsoring the Georgia Made, Georgia Grown Market at the Sandy Springs festival.  The Market was set up like a farmer’s market, inside the big top tent, and we had some of Georgia’s best local farmers and producers on hand to sample and sell their products.

We had farmers and producers of all sorts: Grass-fed beef, all-natural pork, jams, sauces, organic baby food, heirloom tomatoes, homemade pies, hand-made soaps, local apples - you name it.  It’s amazing to think what a wide range of products are either grown or made right in our own backyard.

What a joy to see so many people sharing their vision and passion with shoppers.  When you realize just how much time and love these farmers put into what they do, it’s an easy choice - buy fresh, buy LOCAL, support your neighbors!

I hope we’ll be able to sponsor more of these markets in the future.  Such a fun and rewarding way to spend a weekend, I feel guilty even calling it “work”!

LOCAL Food and Wine Tasting a big success

by sandysprings, July 24, 2009 | Permalink

Thanks so much to all of our customers, local chefs, local producers, local wineries and local breweries who made our Farm-to-Table tasting a great success!

Talk about plenty of food!  We started with appetizers: hand-made ravioli from Via Elisa, mini bruschetta from Sweetwater Growers.  Next, the entrees from our GREAT local chefs: Persian Chicken with Mixed Greens (from Rumi’s Kitchen), Jerk Chicken and Shrimp Pasta (from Chef Rob’s Caribbean Cafe) and BBQ Brisket Sandwiches (from 5 Seasons Brewery).  Now wash it all down with beer from Sweetwater Brewery and wines from Still Pond Wines and Wolf Mountain Vineyards and man, what a feast!

At Whole Foods Market we encourage our customers to “Eat LOCAL” and this event gave us the chance to show just how delicious that can be!  We urge you to seek out locally and regionally grown products.  Not only will you enjoy the fresh, great tasting product, but you will support the local economy at the same time.  To learn more about our commitment to LOCAL visit http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/locally-grown/index.php.

See the stories behind your food - check out our farm-to-market blogs! http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/category/farm-to-market/

What Nurtures You?

by sandysprings, May 13, 2009 | Permalink

Leading up to Mother’s Day we asked moms to let us know what their favorite Whole Foods Market product was and why.  We wanted to learn what nurtures our customers, what makes them feel healthy and vibrant.  Many thanks to everyone who responded - we got lots of great entries!  The most popular response was organic fruits and vegetables because “I feel great when I have healthy food in my house and in my body.”  One mom responded that she loves our 365 brand products because she can get “organic at a great price” and another mom loves our organic pastas.  Why?  Because “the kids love it” and we all know when the kids are happy, mom can relax too!  With busy lives and hectic schedules, it is important that we all find ways to nurture ourselves each day.  We are proud and happy to help you do that and would love to hear from our online community - what nurtures you?

Local Chefs Team up to Fight Poverty Around the World

by sandysprings, April 6, 2009 | Permalink

Saturday, March 28th was an exciting day for Whole Foods Market in Sandy Springs, GA.  It was our first farm-to-table event where local chefs teamed up to raise money for Whole Planet Foundation.  Each chef had a “secret ingredient” that came directly from either a microloan recipient or a Supplier Alliance Partner - one of our suppliers that makes a global commitment to source their products from microloan recipients and their communities.

Unfortunately, we did have a bit of rain - well more like severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings - so we moved the event from our parking lot into our store, but we still had a great turnout and were able to raise a substantial amount for Whole Planet Foundation.  These funds will go DIRECTLY to lending agencies throughout the world that will loan the money to entrepreneurs so that they can pull themselves, their families and their communities out of poverty!

Keep a lookout for more of these farm-to-table events.  As fresh, local produce starts rolling in we will have tasting events to bring you the very best of the season!