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T O P I C R E V I E W
Jen
Posted - Dec 05 2007 : 11:30:17 AM Whole Foods Market recently started a new program to provide low-interest, long-term loans to small producers around the country. We are very excited about the opportunity to help small producers, but our biggest challenge so far has been spreading the word. I appreciate your passing on this information.
Through the Local Producer Loan Program, Whole Foods Market makes $10 million available annually for low-interest loans to small, local producers. Eligible products include agricultural crops, value-added food products, and other all-natural grocery items, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. At five to nine percent, the interest rates currently offered through the Local Producer Loan Program can be extremely attractive to small agricultural producers. The program has other attributes geared to small producers: loan application paperwork is minimized; there are no penalties for early repayment; and loan terms may be from a few months to ten years. You can read about some of our borrowers here: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/locallygrown/lplp/list_loans.ht ml.
Whole Foods Market's Local Producer Loan Program is part of a company-wide initiative supporting local agricultural producers and food artisans, which includes hosting farmers markets at stand-alone stores, refocusing in-store marketing to highlight locally-produced products, and hiring regional staff focused specifically on sourcing local products.
