Whole Foods Market will award an $80,000 loan to Greenbelt Microgreens, a certified organic greenhouse grower of soil based microgreens located in British Columbia. The organic microgreens, which include arugula, pea shoots, sunflowers, broccoli and radishes, are early stage vegetables that, according to the company, have a delicious flavour profile and a very high nutrient density because of their young age (10-14 days). Greenbelt Microgreens grows year round locally in British Columbia, Ontario and New York State, and plans to utilize the loan to expand its packing and cold storage space at their greenhouse, located in Maple Ridge, BC.
“Our commitment to local farms and artisan producers drives our ability to offer new and interesting products to our customers that are local to their region,” said Denise Breyley, Local Forager for the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. “These relationships give us the opportunity to seek out the best products, while also giving local farmers and food artisans the tools and guidance to help them grow their business.”
Whole Foods Market said it is committed to the concept of fresh, healthy, local foods, and supporting both local products and the people who supply them. Loan recipients must meet Whole Foods Market’s quality standards, use the funds for expansion and have a viable business plan. Typical loans range from $1,000 to $100,000 and have fixed low-interest rates.
Previous recipients have used their loans for purchasing more livestock, investing in new equipment, expanding production facilities, adapting to more sustainable practices or converting to organic production. The Greenbelt Microgreens loan will be the 6th for small business owners in British Columbia, for a total of over $400,000 awarded in BC. Overall, over $2 million has been distributed to recipients in the Pacific Northwest.
For more information:
Michael Curry
Greenbelt Microgreens
Tel: +1 (519) 647-1112