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John Mackey has announced that Whole Foods Market will make $10 million available annually for low-interest loans to small, local agricultural producers. Whole Foods Market has recently begun the design and initial implementation of the loan program. Applications are now being accepted (see instructions below). Farmers and artisinal food producers can apply for up to a $50,000 LOAN for expansion and capital development projects. If you are considering applying for a loan, please remember that loan recipients must: * Meet Whole Foods Market's Quality Standards <http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/index.html> * Use funds for expansion, not operating expenses (e.g., buy more animals or new equipment/infrastructure, expand crops) * Meet Whole Foods Market's Animal Compassion Standards <http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/issues/animalwelfare/index.html> (if meat or dairy producers) * Have a viable business plan and adequate cash flow to service debt * For more details, please download the Program Overview <http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/locallygrown/lplp/programoverv iew.pdf> . General questions can be directed to the program coordinators at [log in to unmask] To get the loan application go to: Application Procedure 1. Download and complete the loan application <http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/locallygrown/lplp/application. pdf> . 2. If you do not already know your regional loan contact, send your loan application to [log in to unmask], and we will forward it to your regional loan contact. Vicki Morrone Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist Michigan State University C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems 303 Natural Resources Bldg. East Lansing, MI 48824 517-353-3542 517-282-3557 (cell) 517-353-3834 (fax) http://www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu/ http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/ If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html