Locally Grown - South Region

Our Local Mission

• We are committed to buying from local growers, harvesters and producers. We currently work with over 275 farmers and producers in the South.
• We favor growers and producers who farm organically and are dedicated to environmentally friendly, sustainable agriculture.
• We actively seek out individual growers in our communities and encourage our department team leaders at each store to buy local items directly.
• We partner with groups that support sustainable agriculture efforts.
• We offer financial support in the form of low-interest loans to our partner growers and producers who wish to expand and improve.

Local and Regional

Supporting local growers, producers and harvesters in our immediate communities is a priority to Whole Foods Market.

Supporting the regional agricultural community is important, too, because it gives our customers access to the freshest, best-tasting food and helps us eat with the seasons, reduces environmental impact and helps preserve crop and cultural diversity.

Our definitions of local and regional are specific to each store or city. They may differ somewhat from your own idea of "local." Our intent is to provide clear, complete information and make it easy for you to choose local and choose regional.

Community Partners

In the past year we've financially supported the following non-profit groups working to support local and sustainable producers:

• Southern Foodways Alliance

Alabama

• Birmingham Botanical Gardens
• Jones Valley Urban Farm
• Slow Foods Birmingham

Georgia

• Emory University Office of Sustainability
• Georgia Organics
• Les Dames d'Escoffier, Atlanta Chapter
• Oakhurst Community Garden Project
• Slow Food Atlanta

North Carolina

• The Abundance Foundation
• Appalachian Sustainable Harvest
• Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
• Carrboro Farmers Market
• Center for Environmental Farming Systems
• Central Piedmont Junior Livestock Show
• Chatham County Farmers Alliance CSA
• Durham Central Park
• Foundation for Sustainable Community
• Franklin County Extension Service
• Franklin County Farm Foods & Crafts Tour
• Hilltop Farm CSA
• Moore Street Farmers Market
• North Carolina Sustainable Agriculture Conference
• Rural Advancement Foundation International
• SEEDS (Southeastern Efforts Developing Sustainable Spaces)
• Toxic Free NC

South Carolina

• Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
• Charleston Food & Wine Festival
• Greenville Organic Foods Organization
• Lowcountry Environmental Education Programs
• Slow Food Greenville
• South Carolina Seafood Alliance
• The Sustainability Institute
• The Trust for Public Land South Carolina
• Upstate Agricultural Summit

Tennesee

• Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee
• Local Table
• Franklin Farmers Market
• Memphis Botanical Gardens
• Nashville Farmers Market
• Slow Food Memphis
• Slow Food Nashville
• Tennessee Organic Growers Association

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