Whole Foods promotion benefiting RMFU

DENVER—Five percent of sales, Dec. 4, from the Whole Foods store at Cherry Creek will benefit the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU) Foundation. Family farmers and ranchers from the organization will be on hand, helping sack groceries and manning an educational booth, from noon until 8 p.m.

“This is a great opportunity for our members to meet their customers and to learn what aspects of food production matters most to today’s health and environmentally conscious consumer,” said John Stencel, RMFU president. “It also is good for consumers to learn about the complexities of food production and good environmental stewardship directly from the men and women who work the land.”

Rep. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, is scheduled to visit the Whole Foods store during the promotion. Grossman was earlier this month presented with RMFU’s Legislator of the Year award for his efforts in bringing rural concerns before urban legislators. Grossman and other urban legislators participated in a series of forums held in rural areas this past fall.

“Consumers care about the quality of their food as well as about the important role played by family farmers and ranchers,” said William Lee Ashley, RMFU’s coordinator of the event. “We thank the management and employees of Whole Foods for their support of family producers. They are to be commended for making this educational program available to their customers.”

Agriculture continues to be Colorado’s largest industry, with 1998 cash receipts totaling more than $4 billion. Nonetheless, it is increasingly difficult for family farmers and ranchers to make a living. Since 1984, the farmer’s share of the food dollar has declined by 8.5 percent, while the middleman’s share of the food dollar has grown by 220 percent.

Anyone interested in speaking with the RMFU group and learning more about production agriculture is invited to visit the Whole Foods store at University and First Street. For more information on the event, contact RMFU at 303-752-5800 or Whole Foods at 720-941-4100.