To celebrate Earth Month, Whole Foods Market here is giving away two trips for two to the Earth University, a nonprofit institution in Costa Rica that also grows bananas for Whole Foods Market.
Through April 30, shoppers can visit wholefoodsmarket.com/triptoEarth to enter for a chance to win the eight-day trip to Costa Rica. Winners and their guests will view the university's on-campus banana fields, meet students who are studying to become agricultural directors and see how Earth University bananas are impacting students, growers and the environment.
Earth University recruits students from low-income, rural areas in more than 30 countries around the world, seeking out individuals who are committed to returning to and improving their home communities after graduation. Thanks to donors and other income generators like sales of Earth University bananas, the university provides full scholarships to approximately 60% of its students, with the remaining receiving significant financial aid and /or educational subsidy.
"Every time shoppers choose to buy Earth University bananas at Whole Foods Market, they're helping to fund student scholarships and support research in organic and sustainable agriculture," said John Walker, global produce coordinator for Whole Foods Market, in a statement "We're excited to give our shoppers an opportunity to see how their purchasing choices can make such a profound difference for our partners around the world."
Earth University bananas are also backed by Whole Foods Market's Whole Trade program, designed to provide fair prices to producers, better wages and working conditions for farm workers, environmentally friendly growing practices, and a donation to the Whole Planet Foundation to fund poverty relief.
