Whole Foods Contributes $30K-plus to Farm Aid

Whole Foods Market's Portland, Ore. and Seattle stores have raised over $30,000 to support Farm Aid. The donation represents 5 percent of net sales at the organic and natural grocer's 11 area locations that took part in the "5% Community Giving Day" held Oct. 16.

"Whole Foods Market is dedicated to caring for our communities and our environment, and our partnership with Farm Aid serves this mission," said Whole Foods' PR specialist Vicki Foley. "We support our local farmers in many ways, and our customers enjoy finding produce and other items from local farmers in our stores."

Whole Foods' donation will help such Farm Aid offerings as the Farmer Resource Network, which links family farmers to innovative ideas to help them meet the rising consumer demand for sustainably grown food products. The network also provides tools to set up new farmers.

Founded in 1985, Farm Aid is well known for its annual fundraising concerts held by artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews, and others. To date, the organization has raised more than $30 million to help farmers promote food from family farms.

Featuring such banners as Whole Foods Market, Fresh & Wild, and Harry's Farmers Market, Whole Foods employs over 53,000 associates.