Local Producer Loan Program

Whole Foods Market's Local Producer Loan Program (LPLP) provides up to $10 million in low-interest loans to small, local producers. Why? Because we believe in supporting local farmers and producers. We want to make it easier for them to grow their businesses and bring more local products to market. That’s good for us and it’s good for you.

Loans range from $1,000 to $100,000 and can be for things like purchasing more animals, investing in new equipment or converting to organic production. We minimize the fees, interest rates and paperwork that can often get in the way of a small local farm or business taking the next step to expand its operations.

Stories of our loan recipients

From ranchers and beekeepers to ice cream makers and bakers, they all have wonderfully unique experiences to share. And if you are a local producer yourself, check out the information provided here about applying for a loan to help your business.

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Featured Loan Recipient

BTTR Ventures

Emeryville, CA

Check out BTTR Ventures on the Whole Story blog!

Nikhil Arora and Alejandro Velez started BTTR (pronounced “better”) Ventures while in a business ethics class in UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. This unique business takes spent coffee grounds from area cafés, including Whole Foods Market’s Allegro coffee bars, and uses the grounds as a substrate for mushrooms; used substrate is then converted to compost. Their current products are oyster mushrooms and grow-your-own-mushroom kits; they also plan to offer shiitake mushrooms and kits. BTTR Ventures are using their loan to purchase equipment and expand into a 1000 ft2 space.

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