@TheFreshStopBus Earns Community’s 1st Grant to Increase Healthy Food Access w @WFM_Orlando

Nearly 24 million Americans live in neighborhoods with limited or no access to fresh, healthy food. Whole Cities Foundation is partnering with over 30 community-based organizations that are increasing access to fresh, healthy food in their neighborhoods through its new Community First Grant Program. Each organization will be awarded $5,000 to support existing projects that improve community health through broadening access to fresh food.

This year, Orlando’s very own The Fresh Stop Bus – a re-purposed Lynx bus that delivers fresh produce to community’s in need – was awarded a grant which will help reach its current goal of supporting additional neighborhoods in Central Florida. As envisioned by managing partner, Hebni Nutrition Consultants, The Fresh Stop Bus is a mobile farmers market created to serve the more than 90,000 people living in food deserts in Central Florida. The program offers fresh fruits and vegetables in community-centered locations at budget-friendly prices.

“We’re excited to expand our partnership with The Fresh Stop Bus and have our local Team Members involved in supporting this amazing organization’s efforts,” said Vicky Santamaria, Marketing Field Associate for Whole Foods Market Orlando. “Our Produce team has been working with the organization this past year, helping review purchasing orders and sharing best practices on how to better manage inventory and operate efficiently.”

Developed by Whole Cities Foundation, the aim of the Community First Grant Program is to support partnerships among Whole Foods Market Team Members and local food access projects that are community-led and self-sustaining. Projects funded include community gardens, mobile markets, urban farms and pop-up produce stands.

The grant program is one initiative of Whole Foods Market’s “Community First” principles, where community-led organizations and residents build their local food system. Through the program, the foundation seeks to amplify the outcomes of the solutions set in place by community leaders. This year’s Florida recipients include Newtown Nation (Sarasota) and Hebni Nutrition Consultants (Orlando).

Whole Foods Market Orlando Metro locations:

Whole Foods Market Altamonte Springs is located at 305 East Altamonte Drive, Suite 1000,

Altamonte Springs, FL 32701. Telephone: (407) 767-2100.

Whole Foods Market Orlando is located at 8003 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando, FL 32819.

Telephone: (407) 355-7100.

Whole Foods Market Winter Park is located at 1989 Aloma Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32792.

Telephone: (407) 676-8788.

Follow the stores on Instagram @WholeFoodsOrlando.

About Whole Foods Market® 


Founded in 1978 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFM), is the leading natural and organic food retailer. As America’s first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” by Health magazine. The company’s motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, team member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company’s more than 85,000 team members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 19 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2015, the company had sales of more than $15.4 billion and currently has more than 435 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. For more company news and information, please visit media.wfm.com

About Whole Cities Foundation^®:

Whole Cities Foundation, based in Austin, TX, is an independent nonprofit foundation established by Whole Foods Market. The foundation works alongside community-based organizations to improve neighborhood health through collaborative partnerships, nutrition education, and broader access to fresh, healthy food. Since its inception in 2014, Whole Cities Foundation has partnered with organizations in over 40 cities across the U.S. to build thriving local food systems and improve health through community gardens, urban farms, pop-up produce stands, agriculture skills development, mobile markets, farmer’s markets, and healthy cooking classes. In addition, Whole Cities Foundation has its very own medical nutrition education program, Let’s Talk Food. For more information, visit wholecitiesfoundation.org

 

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