Hello Earthlings! Want to win a trip to Costa Rica? Visit the majestic Arenal volcano and hike through the tropics? You’re in luck! We’re giving away two trips for two to spend a week at EARTH University — a nonprofit university in Costa Rica that also grows bananas for many of our stores.Visit wholefoodsmarket.com/triptoearth opens in a new tab before April 30 and follow the quick instructions to enter for a chance to win. UPDATE: Thank you to everyone that entered. Congrats to our winners: Samantha S. from Charlottesville, VA and Cherose-Anne U. from NYC.
On this trip, you’ll do much more than explore the banana fields and enjoy the vibrant flavors, sights and sounds of Costa Rica. You’ll get to meet EARTH University students who are studying to become agricultural leaders in their home communities and have an opportunity to help build a bio-digester that will provide fuel for a family in the community.
You’ll also see, first-hand, how buying EARTH bananas can help improve lives. That’s because every time you buy an EARTH University banana at Whole Foods Market®, you’re helping to fund student scholarships and supporting the university’s research in organic and sustainable agricultural.
Even better, EARTH University bananas are also backed by our Whole Trade® Guarantee opens in a new tab. That means every purchase helps to ensure fair prices to producers, better wages and working conditions for farm workers, environmentally-friendly growing practices and a donation to Whole Planet Foundation opens in a new tab to fund poverty relief. That’s one powerful banana!
This is an experience of a lifetime, but don’t take it from me! Last year we took three special guests along with us to EARTH University and they have their own stories to share after returning from the trip. Check out their blogs for a deeper sense of what a trip to EARTH has to offer.
From Max Goldberg of Living Maxwell:
"EARTH University in Costa Rica – An Amazing Example of What Education Should Be" opens in a new tab
“Without a question, EARTH University is one of the most inspirational stories that I have ever covered and it is taking a real leadership role in trying to change the world.”
"How Sustainable Bananas are Produced at EARTH University in Costa Rica" opens in a new tab“Whole Foods recognized the importance of what EARTH University was doing and the values that it stood for, and decided to distribute the school’s bananas throughout the U.S. Not only has this partnership been critical for the long-viability of EARTH University’s banana program, but the strong demand for the school’s bananas has proven that sustainability is good business.”
From Alyce Lomax of The Motley Fool:
"Buying into the “Impossible” Dream" opens in a new tab
“The experience reminded me that if you want to change the future, you've got to buy into the dream — and get to work. Nothing is impossible… Speaking of dreams, EARTH University provides agricultural and sustainability education to students from more than 25 countries.”
"Could this Radical College Change the World Economy?" opens in a new tab
“EARTH University students don't land there by chance. They arrive with a path in mind: to learn the skills to build better lives and work in responsible ways that respect the planet, and then to take those skills back to their home countries… The students also branch out into surrounding communities to make life better for local citizens.”
If you’d like to experience the magic of EARTH for yourself, visit wholefoodsmarket.com/triptoearth opens in a new tab before April 30 and follow the quick instructions to enter for a chance to win.
