Locally Grown: Mid-Atlantic Region

Whole Foods Market is proud to support our local growers and producers. We strive to work hand in hand with local growers to bring you the best each season has to offer, connecting you to the land and the people that sustain us. Local produce can stay on the vine or branch longer, arrive fresher and more flavorful. Buying local contributes to the economic success of the communities we serve. And shorter shipping distances help conserve energy.

If you are a farmer, producer or supplier in the mid-Atlantic area served by our stores (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee) and are interested in introducing us to your products send an e-mail to our Buyers at local.vendors@wholefoods.com or drop us a line at Mid-Atlantic Corporate Buyers Office, Whole Foods Market, 5515 Security Lane, Rockville, MD 20852.

Our Local Growers

Arbittier Farms

Vineland, NJ

"I want Jersey to be the next California," says Howard Arbittier, a New Jersey farming advocate who represents 80 area farmers. "I want customers to know that we have up to 150 varieties of vegetables we can grow here. I represent the small farmer who has 50 acres or less and specializes in just one product such as mint or cilantro. Because of that, I know it's going to be fresh and be the best quality product on the market."
Blue Ridge Growers

Stevensburg, VA

"We grow year round. We start in January and February with spring plants such as primrose and pansies, that leads us into summer patio plants and hanging baskets. In the fall, mums and ornamental kale and then finish up with Poinsettias for the holidays," says Beth Osborne of Blue Ridge Growers. Located at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Blue Ridge Growers is a family owned business that has been in operation for over 30 years. "We are one of the Top 100 Growers in the U.S., growing over 200 hundred varieties of plants and flowers."
Help From Above Farms

Three Springs, PA

"It's about the bigger picture. We believe in sustainable agriculture, we want to leave our eight children with viable farm land," says Mark Stanley of Help From Above Farms. Organically certified since 1985, Help From Above Farms grows over six different kinds of lettuces and basil plants, a variety of greens, five different kinds of squashes, as well as other produce. "You can tell our produce is fresh, it hasn't been shipped across the country for days, it arrives to Whole Foods the day after we pick it in the fields."
Homestead Farms

Poolesville, MD

"There has always been someone in my family that has farmed. Our family's grandfathers, fathers, uncles, nephews, grandsons have farmed this same land for the last 240 years," says Ben Allnut of Homestead Farms. Today, Ben carries on the farming tradition, farming 270 acres of land that has been in his family since 1763. "Because we are local, our produce can stay on the vine or stalk an extra few days before it's picked for Whole Foods, which is what makes our produce sweeter and more flavorful."
Koinonia Farm

Stevenstown, MD

"As a child I had a victory garden and my whole family was always into gardening from the beginning, so I knew I had to farm", says Anne Pomykala of Koinonia Farm. The oldest organic farm in the state of Maryland, Koinonia Farms was established as the predecessor of the Peace Corps. The farm trained adults going overseas to educate underdeveloped countries in the methods and techniques of organic farming. Anne Pomykala bought Koinonia in 1985; "I had a chance to preserve a piece of history and preserve organic farming."
Krisp-pak

Norfolk, VA

"In 1949, my father was the first to wash and package leafy greens in individual plastic bags to be sold to the customer. And now 57 years later I'm running the business he started," says Paul Bataglia of Krisp-pak. Today Krisp-pak specializes in alfalfa and broccoli sprouts that are clean and healthy for the customer. "Sprouts are living plants full of vitamins and enzymes that your body needs. Sprouts are so good for you, if you eat them on a regular basis, you feel great each morning."
Muth Family Farm

Williamstown, NJ

As a teenager, Bob Muth sold produce at county auctions, and later went on to study agriculture, where he became interested in organics and sustainable farming. "About 20 years ago, my Dad wanted to retire, so I knew where I needed to be, back here on the farm." To this day, Bob continues to move from conventional farming to organic farming. "With new techniques and new products, there are so many ways to think outside the box. We farmers need to re-invent ourselves and our way of thinking."
Lady Moon Farms

Chambersburg, PA

"We decided we needed to take care of the land. Your best investment in buying organically grown food is helping to maintain the farm acreage that produces it. This is your environment being stewarded carefully so it is sustainable in the future," says Tom Beddard of Lady Moon Farms. Beginning in 1987 on 22 acres, Lady Moon Farm has now grown to over 900 acres of organic farming. "Even though we have more land and about 60 employees, we are still a family farm today."
One Straw Farm

Whitehall, MD

The owners of One Straw Farm, Joan and Drew Norman, knew from the beginning that they wanted to grow produce organically. "We believe in putting time, energy and talent close to home which is why growing and selling locally and organically is so important to us," says Joan. One Straw Farm has been around since the 1980s, growing over 100 different kinds of vegetables. "Farming isn't a job, it's a lifestyle, it's never ending," says Drew.
Parker Farms

Oakgrove, VA

"The fresher the produce, the healthier it is for the customer. And the environment benefits too because it's local so there is less shipping time to get our produce to the customer," says Sean McFaden of Parker Farms. A fourth generation farming operation which originally grew tobacco and raised cattle, Parker Farms has now become one of the largest farms on the East Coast. "The broccoli we grow is so fresh; it arrives to Whole Foods in 24 hours from the time it's cut in our fields. And it just tastes so much better than other broccoli that takes a week to be shipped."
Riverside Fruit

Falling Waters, WV

"I wanted to be able to eat what I could plant and grow myself," says Tom Grey. Beginning as a small garden and orchard ten years ago, Riverside Fruit has now grown into a fruit business. "I represent farmers that have been farming for generations in this area. We supply Whole Foods with more than 10 different varieties of peaches and every variety of Eastern apple you can name," says Tom Grey. "Because we are local our peaches are more fragrant, sweeter and perfectly ripe when they arrive at Whole Foods."
Tuscarora Cooperative

Huntstown, PA

"Our philosophy is to grow for the local markets, we really want to support eating seasonally and eating regionally. We believe because we grow produce organically it is more nutritious, more flavorful and very fresh," says Chris Fullteron of the Tuscarora Cooperative. Founded in 1988 by six farmers who wanted to start growing and selling organic produce, the Tuscarora Cooperative has now grown to twenty-two farmers that grow over 100 crops. "We are farmer-owned and operated and we only sell what we grow."