Despite growing demand for organic, locally grown food, only 1,700 acres in Georgia are committed to organic farming according to Georgia Organics, a nonprofit organization devoted to healthy, sustainable and locally grown food in Georgia.  That compares to more than 4 million acres of organic farms across the United States.

“We need more organic growers,” said Alex Rilko, Southern Region purchasing team leader for Whole Foods Market.  “There is a huge demand for organic and the supply is not there.”

Whole Foods Market is the world's largest retailer of natural and organic foods, with stores throughout North America and the United States.  Its Southern Region includes 20 stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.

According to Rilko, certified organic acreage in Georgia has increased but remains very small as a percent of the state’s total conventional acreage. All organic products marketed in the United States are certified under the National Organic Standards developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“I have a farmer in South Carolina supplying organic peaches but no one in Georgia,” Rilko said.  “A lot of growers don’t believe they can make a profit if they farm organically.”

Promoting organic farming
Whole Foods seeks out and promotes organically grown foods. It also promotes meats that are raised humanely and processed with a measure of compassion.  The company offers a number of programs to support its suppliers.

“We can work with all types of organic growers; from those with one acre of production to those with thousands,” Rilko said.

If a farmer has just enough produce for one store, then delivery can be made directly to the closest Whole Foods store.  Otherwise larger farmers can deliver to the South Region distribution center located in Braselton, Ga.  Farmers can also deliver a large shipment to a local store and Whole Foods delivery trucks can backhaul it to the regional distribution center.

“We can accommodate virtually any farmer who meets our quality standards,” Rilko explained.

In addition to its flexible distribution capabilities, Whole Foods also offers a local loan program.  Farmers who plan to expand into organic farming or convert all or a portion of their operation can apply for a low interest loan.

“We also profile local farmers and their produce in each of our stores,” Rilko added.  “For example, our stores recently offered peaches at 49 cents per pound and featured stories on our peach growers in each state.”

Promoting healthy eating
Whole Foods aggressively promotes demand for organic, natural food.  Currently its “Health Starts Here” program offers educational resources, in store labeling and other resources to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

“The program can help people identify foods that are rich in nutrients like kale and make smarter choices as they shop,” Rilko said.

The Aggregate Nutrient Density Index scoring system is used throughout Whole Foods stores to help shoppers make healthier choices.  A “Health Starts Here” area in stores offers a selection of books and other resources.  Some Whole Foods stores even offer Healthy Eating supper clubs and lifestyle support clubs.

More information on Whole Foods is available online at www.wholefoods.com.  More information on Georgia Organics is available at www.georgiaorganics.org

Comments