How is the Local Producer Loan Program different from the Whole Planet Foundation?
While the Whole Planet Foundation also facilitates small loans, it is distinct from the Local Producer Loan Program. The Local Producer Loan Program is a part of Whole Foods Market and provides low-interest loans to local producers in the United States; funds are disbursed by the regions and come out of their annual budgets. The Whole Planet Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides grants to organizations that provide micro-loans to individuals living in areas in the developing world which provide products for Whole Foods Market. Currently, the program is operating in both Costa Rica and Guatemala. The Whole Planet Foundation was initially funded with $570,000 raised through a Global Five Percent Day held on October 25th, 2005. On that day, five percent of all customer purchases at every Whole Foods Market in North America and the United Kingdom was set aside to establish the Foundation. Whole Foods Market has promised a donation of one million dollars annually to ensure t
