Whole Foods Westwood

The shoppers at Whole Foods Westwood Store on Gayley Ave in Los Angeles had a chance on Wednesday Sept 13 to meet manufacturers who “Give Back” to the community and the environment.

Whole Foods Westwood invited a select group of manufacturers to showcase their products. Ashley Gibbons, Marketing Supervisor, of Whole Foods Westwood said “I wanted customers to meet these companies and learn more about them.” Shoppers were treated to free samples and learned that by making a choice you can help everything from marine conservation to improving the lives of children.

The manufacturer that drew the most attention was an organic tortilla chip company called “Whale Tails Tortilla Chips”. Yes , you're right, this Organic, non gmo, tortilla chip is shaped like a whale's tail! They look great and taste delicious. They have a unique flavor that comes from the gourmet Hawaiian Sea Salt that they use. The salt they use is Alaea which is rich in trace minerals and lower in sodium. I couldn't believe that I was talking to the owners of the company. Standing next to their product, Ric Kraszewski and his wife, Terry, said “We had to come. Giving back is why we started the company. Whale Tails Tortilla Chips is growing due to the tremendous support of Whole Foods and their customers.” Terry Kraszewski added “We have been on the shelves for only eleven months and we were able to give back our first ten percent. We will be funding the water quality project of Magdalena Bay in Baja California.” The project Terry spoke of, I learned, is run by Julio Solis of Magdalena BayKeepers. Protecting the bay is so important because it is a sanctuary for the California Gray Whale that returns to this bay each year to give birth to their young. John Defelice, Marketing Assistant, Whole Foods Westwood said “From time to time we plan store theme events and I really enjoy putting on Giving Back Vendor Day. This day features vendors who give something back to the community or the environment. And with Whale Tails giving a portion of their profits to whale research It was great to have them participate. My preference is to have the vendors come out and do active demos. Who better to bring awareness to the customer than the vendors themselves?”

Other manufacturers that participated were Begley's Best, Organic Hearts of Palms, My Family Farms, Aricos, Endangered Species Bars, Natures Path, Pamela's Products, and Adina World Beat Beverages. These manufacturers all give back to worthy causes. So the next time your in Whole Foods Market and your trying to decide which products to place in your shopping cart remember that your purchase makes a difference in our community and our environment. Thank you Whole Foods Westwood for this fun and informative day.