Whole Foods Triangle stores join North Carolina’s 10% Campaign

Whole Foods Markets has pledged its support to the NC 10% Campaign, an initiative of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems that encourages consumers to purchase locally produced food.

To kick-off this partnership, Triangle area Whole Foods stores are planning several events July 12-14. The North Raleigh store at 8710 Six Forks Road will host an NC 10% Campaign Day Thursday, July 12. The store will donate 5 percent of its proceeds that day to the 10% Campaign. Campaign staff will be at the store 4-7 p.m., along with vendors from the North Raleigh Farmers Market who will set up a mini-farmers’ market right outside the North Raleigh Whole Foods location.

Farmers selling at the market include these NC 10% Campaign partners: Homestead Harvest Farm, Wrenn’s Farm, Cane Creek Farms, Dean Farms and Randye’s Gardyns, along  with T. Gurley Bath & Body, Chew Monster and Cupcake Mayhem, also 10% Campaign partners.

For this event, shoppers who spend $100 or more at Whole Foods will receive a Carolina-grown cotton t-shirt, produced by North Carolina t-shirt shop TS Designs, also a 10% Campaign community partner.

5% Day will kick off the “Love Local Weekend” at the North Raleigh store, July 12-14. Events will include local food tastings, local food cookout, live music, local brewery truck and more. To find out more about weekend events, visit the North Raleigh Whole Foods Facebook page.

Can’t make it to North Raleigh? Visit Durham Whole Foods Market on July 12, 4-7 p.m. for equally locally-enthused giveaways, local food demonstrations and live music. Look for the NC 10% Campaign signs and upcoming event dates in other Triangle stores.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems, a partnership of N.C. State University, N.C. A&T State University and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, develops and promotes food and farming systems that protect the environment, strengthen local communities and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond.

Since the 10% Campaign started two years ago, more than $16 million in local food purchases has been tracked through the website: www.nc10percent.com.

For more information on the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, visit www.cefs.ncsu.edu. For the 10% Campaign, visit www.nc10percent.com.

-Written by Natalie Hampton, nhampton@ncsu.edu or 919.513.3128