AUSTIN, Texas, May 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Whole Foods Market , the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket, announced today it has launched "Destination Summer" to celebrate summer eating across America, whether it be at backyard barbecues, family picnics or laid back dinner parties al fresco. The seasonal taste tour and journey of local flavors from coast to coast kicks off with a sweepstakes to win Weber(R) Grills and a VIP concert trip for Farm Aid 2008* along with a recipe-filled Destination Summer grilling guide, available in all Whole Foods Market stores in the U.S.
"Whether your summer adventures include a road trip or your backyard becomes your vacation spot, we're packed and ready to roll with all the tips and recipes you need for easy and delicious summertime meals," said Theo Weening, global meat senior coordinator of Whole Foods Market.
Destination Summer kicks off by offering a sampling of sensational summertime meal solutions ranging from easy to adventurous. Along the way, Whole Foods Market stores will feature select regional and local recipes, seasonal ingredients, food experts and local farmers and producers. The free grilling guide offers a road map of great summer meals and includes tips from Whole Foods Market resident foodies as well as foremost grilling experts including Bobby Flay, host of the successful Food Network program Boy Meets Grill.
A series of in-store guides and a web travelogue, http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/destinationsummer, will provide a close look at the purest examples of American favorites, from organic blueberry pie to grilled corn on the cob.
"Destination Summer" highlights include: -- Grilling it Green: Small changes and smarter choices can help the Earth, even when you're grilling; and maximizing natural flavors equals sure-fire grilling winners. -- Grilling Basics: Growing up in a family butcher shop in Holland, Whole Foods Market's global meat coordinator Theo Weening offers tricks of the trade and safe grilling tips, including his best tip for perfectly grilled meat or poultry: an instant-read thermometer. -- Pairing Kabobs and Marinades: Take the guesswork out of grill seasonings with Whole Ranch Marinades. Whether it's chicken, beef, lamb, fish, shrimp or veggies, marinades kick up the flavor of any grilled dish. -- Grilling with Southern Style: Home to okra, grits, hush puppies and the sweetest peaches this side of desire, the South doesn't take a back seat when it comes to food. So lean back and let Southern hospitality and ingenuity win over your taste buds. -- East Coast Grilling: From Maine lobster to the blue crab of Chesapeake Bay, the East Coast is America's seafood destination. Become the neighborhood celebrity chef when you grill up Whole Foods Market's top East Coast recipe favorites. -- Grilling with Southwestern Flavor: In the land of cowboys, cactus and creative cuisine, beef, chiles and watermelon rule the summer table. These great flavors are law in the Southwest, so you know you're in for some darn good eatin'. -- Grilling with the Heartland: The Midwest in summer is a cornucopia of fresh tastes: free-range bison, Iowa corn, freshwater fish and fresh herbs. From the Great Lakes to the Western plains and up to the northern border, Midwest America is a flavor adventure.
In addition, shoppers can enter the Whole Foods Market Online Sweepstakes at http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/destinationsummer. The first-prize winner will win an exclusive VIP trip for two to Farm Aid 2008 Presented by Whole Foods Market and Horizon Organic; 12 second-prize winners will receive a Weber(R) "Performer Grill(R)" Charcoal Grill; and 25 third-prize winners will receive a copy of Food Network's grill expert Bobby Flay's new cookbook Bobby Flay's Grill It! There is no purchase necessary. Entry deadline is June 18th. Visit http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/destinationsummersweeps/ for rules and restrictions.
Destination Summer is yet another example of Whole Foods Market's commitment to support local farmers and producers. As part of this mission, the Company limits the portion of produce purchased at the national level, with a goal of having 20 percent supplied by local sources. Whole Foods Market also empowers individual store and regional buyers to participate in "back-door buying," which allows small-scale producers to sell products to an individual store, rather than forcing them to funnel products through a national distribution system. In addition, Whole Foods Market recently created the $10 million Local Producer Loan Program, which has already awarded more than $1 million in low-interest loans to local growers, harvesters and producers in 12 states.
* Farm Aid 2008 Presented by Whole Foods Market and Horizon Organic About Whole Foods Market(R)
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/) is the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket and America's first national certified organic grocer. In fiscal year 2007, the company had sales of $6.6 billion and currently has more than 270 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The Whole Foods Market motto, "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet"(TM) 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, Fresh & Wild(TM), and Harry's Farmers Market(R) are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP. Wild Oats(R) and Capers Community Market(TM) are trademarks owned by Wild Marks, Inc. Whole Foods Market employs more than 53,000 Team Members and has been ranked for 11 consecutive years as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by FORTUNE magazine.
About Farm Aid
Farm Aid's mission is to build a vibrant family-farm centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid's work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family-farmed food. Since 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $30 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the current system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.
Contact: Cathy Cochran 512.542.0380
