Whole Foods Market Kahului Purchasing From More Than 60 Maui Producers | The Honolulu Advertiser

Continuing upon its commitment to providing customers with the highest-quality natural and organic products while supporting the local communities in which it works, Whole Foods Market Kahului will offer products from over 140 local producers, 60 of whom are based on Maui. The new Maui producers brought on to supply the Kahului store bring the total of local vendors whose products Whole Foods Market offers in Hawai’i to more than 205.

"Whole Foods Market celebrates the great variety of local businesses and farms in Hawai`i that grow and make wonderful food, drink and body care products. We are delighted to continue to expand our selection of special local products for our shoppers’ enjoyment," said Claire Sullivan, Whole Foods Market’s vendor and community relations coordinator.

"Opening our first Maui store presents a particularly exciting opportunity to support and highlight Maui producers, especially those in the farming and ranching community who contribute to the unique beauty and agricultural character of this island." added Sullivan.

Much of the supremely healthy kale and chard that will grace the Kahului store’s produce department is grown at Rice Farms in Kula. Since 2006, Tom Rice has worked to create a diversified farm on his family property, learning which crops are happiest in the cool, sunny Upcountry climate. Tom’s experimentation with many seed varieties and his commitment to soil conservation and development is now producing delicious, healthy greens and veggies, which shoppers will be able to enjoy.

Located in Ulumalu in north Maui, Fragrant Orchids of Maui will supply the company’s Kahului store with a selection of beautiful potted orchids. For mainland visitors or Hawai’i shoppers looking for a truly unique gift, the orchids will also be available for shipment to family and friends on the mainland.

Since 1997 joy’s place has been offering wholesome meals on Maui’s south shore in Kihei, driven by a commitment to helping individuals achieve optimum health by serving food that has been simply prepared using fresh, organic ingredients. Whole Foods Market Kahului is delighted to be the second outlet for the line of live foods recently created by Joy and her partners Joe and Tyua. These live foods are nutrient-dense, plant-based foods that have been lovingly crafted without exposure to high temperatures, so they’re bursting with flavor, color and nutrition.

Pala`au, which means to heal with plants, is a line of divinely inspired Maui-made body care products that will be available at the Kahului store. They are based on a foundation of traditional beliefs, techniques and ceremonial processes from Hawaiian and Amazonian healers. Owner Stephanie Montanez creates and brews these products by hand in small batches on full moons. She makes them with love, thought and focused herbal intentions, thus controlling their vibrancy, potency and freshness. The result is a literally edible treat for the body and senses.

Maui producers whose items will be available at Whole Foods Market Kahului include:

Healing Dragons (vog tea)

Pala`au (body care)

Bee Kine (surf wax)

Rainbow Ridge Farm (goat milk soap)

Kula Herbs (soap)

Noni Biotech (noni juice)

Top Maui Restaurants (restaurant guidebook)

Aftersea Aesthetics (glass water bottles)

Ali`i Kula Lavender (lavender culinary creations)

Surfing Goat Dairy (goat cheese)

Maui Brewing Co. (beer)

Tedeschi Vineyard (wine)

Maui Cattle Company (beef)

Scott McKay (kiawe wood)

Anuhea Farms (asparagus)

Coca Farms (veggies)

Evonuk Farms (herbs and beans)

Fresh Island Herbs (vegetables & citrus)

Greenleaf Farm (yacon)

Zuhair Tamimi (tomatoes)

Hali`imaile Pineapple Co. (pineapples)

Hana Fresh (vegetables)

Hana Herbs and Flowers (pohole fern)

Kahanu Aina Sprouts (sprouts)

Kanoa Enterprises (taro, luau leaf & chili peppers)

Kapalua Farms (vegetables & fruit)

Kula Country Farm (strawberries, onions & daikon)

Kula Grown Organic Produce (zucchini, cucumber & lettuce)

Kumu Farms (papaya, herbs, tomatoes & pesto)

Kupa`a Farm (vegetables & fruit)

Maui Farmers Cooperative Exchange (cabbage & other vegetables)

Ono Organic Farms (tropical fruit)

Rice Farms (kale, chard & other vegetables)

Waipoli Hydroponic greens (watercress & lettuce)

Yee’s Orchard (mangoes)

Fragrant Orchids of Maui (orchids)

Howard’s Nursery (potted plants)

I.N. Komoda Orchids (orchids)

Maui Floral (protea)

Maui Tropicals & Foliage (tropical flowers)

Paradise Flower Farms (lei & tuberose)

The Maui Farm (potted herbs)

CAKEbakery (cookies, muffins & cakes)

Foods4Life (vegan baked goods)

Maui Kombucha (kombucha)

Ono Gelato (gelato)

Coffees of Hawai`i (coffee)

Ka`anapali Estate (coffee)

Creations by Vasi (salsa)

Maui Taro Burgers (taro burgers)

Joy’s Place (raw food)

Kihei Ice (ice)

Maui Pure Island Products (cleaning products)

Roselani (ice cream)

SoMoor (jams & butter rum sauce)

MauiBrand (sugar)

Maui Jams & Jelly (jams & jellies)

Maui Upcountry ( jams & jellies)

On Sunday, March 14, Whole Foods Market will partner with the state’s Seal of Quality Hawai’i Department of Agriculture, to celebrate the highest quality of local products. From 12 p.m. 3 p.m. shoppers can meet the faces behind the state’s Seal of Quality products, while also enjoying special giveaways, gift with purchase and more.

For additional information on Whole Foods Market’s Kahului store, please visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com/maui/ or call (808) 872-3310. To keep up-to-date on the latest store news and sales, follow Whole Foods Market Kahala on twitter at www.twitter.com/wfmkahului.

About Whole Foods Market

Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com), a leader in the natural and organic foods industry and America’s first national certified organic grocer, was named "America’s Healthiest Grocery Store" in 2008 by Health magazine. 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. Thanks to its 53,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by FORTUNE magazine for 13 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2008, the company had sales of $8 billion and currently has more than 275 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market, Fresh & WildTM, and Harry’s Farmers Market are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP. Wild Oats and Capers Community MarketTM are trademarks owned by Wild Marks, Inc.

Whole Foods Market Kahului Purchasing From More Than 60 Maui Producers | honoluluadvertiser.com | The Honolulu Advertiser