Mission and Values Partnership with Whole Foods Market

Partnership with Whole Foods Market

EARTH University, the leading tropical agriculture school for the developing world and Whole Foods Market, the world’s leading natural and organic supermarket are partnering on a series of initiatives to support education, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development in the tropics.

The relationship goes beyond the business that EARTH and Whole Foods Market are doing together. In past two years:

• 8 EARTH students have done internships at Whole Foods Market stores and facilities. Internships at Whole Foods Market provide EARTH students with invaluable exposure to markets they will need to understand as future agricultural entrepreneurs.
• EARTH president José Zaglul delivered a keynote address at Whole Foods Market’s 2006 Tribal Gathering conference in Austin, TX.
• Whole Foods Market co-president Walter Robb delivered a keynote address at a conference of agricultural university presidents from around the world hosted by EARTH University in Costa Rica.
• More than 35 Whole Foods Market team members have visited EARTH’s campus, farms, and community development projects in Costa Rica. Visits to EARTH provide Whole Foods Market team members with a direct connection with developing world producers and a deeper understanding of agricultural production and associated social and environmental issues.
• Whole Foods Market is helping finance organic banana research and production at EARTH.

About Whole Foods Market

Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market is the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket and America's first national certified organic grocer. In fiscal year 2006, the company had sales of $5.6 billion and currently has more than 185 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

The Whole Foods Market motto, "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet"™ captures the company's mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement.

Whole Foods Market, Harry's Farmers Market®, and Fresh & Wild® are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP. Whole Foods Market employs more than 41,500 team members and has been ranked for nine consecutive years as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by FORTUNE magazine.

Learn more:

Whole Foods Market

Whole Planet Foundation