Whole Foods Market Foundation
The Whole Foods Market Foundation has announced over $1.9 million in global funding, with the majority of the investment focused on Africa.
Six community-led initiatives across Nigeria, Liberia, Tanzania, and Côte d’Ivoire will receive support through grants and zero-interest loans.
The funds are aimed at improving food access, reducing waste, boosting incomes, and strengthening rural economies.
The projects are expected to impact thousands of people—mainly smallholder farmers and market vendors—by addressing gaps in cold storage, value-added processing, clean fuel access, and sustainable cocoa production.
“Each project is community-led and designed to create lasting impact in communities worldwide,” the Foundation stated in its July 10 announcement.
ColdHubs Tackles Food Waste in Nigeria
ColdHubs, a new partner of the Foundation, is receiving a $350,000, 3-year, zero percent interest loan. The funding will allow the company to grow its network of solar-powered cold rooms and ice points across rural Nigerian markets.
“Food spoilage is a widespread challenge for Nigerian farmers—over 90 million smallholder farmers report lost wages due to lack of cold storage at key points along the food supply chain,” the Foundation noted.
The funds will help ColdHubs implement three new cold hubs and three ice points, while also providing post-harvest management training.
The initiative is expected to benefit an estimated 640 smallholder farmers and market retailers, increasing their annual revenues by 55–65%.
Expanding Income and Fuel Access in Liberia
In Liberia, two different organizations will receive interest-free loans to expand rural incomes and reduce reliance on inefficient energy sources.
J-Palm Liberia (JPL), a Foundation partner since 2021, has been awarded a $448,528 3-year, zero percent interest loan.
The funding will support the company’s plan to purchase palm from 3,500 wild palm collectors.
In addition, JPL has acquired new equipment to transform discarded palm kernel shells into fuel-efficient briquettes.
“They plan to market these briquettes to the Liberian public as a cheaper and cleaner source of fuel,” the announcement stated.
To date, J-Palm Liberia has received $686,548 in funding from the Foundation.
Meanwhile, Kawadah Farm Liberia, a for-profit social enterprise, will use a $290,000, 3-year, no-interest loan to increase cassava and soybean processing capacity.
The goal is to reach 5,000 more farmers, offer training and small tool loans, and increase smallholder income.
“Smallholder farmers across West Africa face significant challenges, including limited access to infrastructure, farming techniques, and advanced food processing technologies,” the Foundation noted.
Supporting Cocoa Farmers in Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire
Kokoa Kamili Limited (KKL) in Tanzania, a new partner of the Foundation, will receive a $300,000, 3-year, zero percent interest loan to purchase cocoa from a minimum of 533 farmers.
“Because cocoa is a year-round crop, these funds will be leveraged multiple times a year,” the Foundation explained.
Kokoa Kamili also plans to provide smallholder cocoa farmers with seedlings, agronomic support, organic certification, and above-market pricing through access to global premium markets.
In Côte d’Ivoire, social enterprise Kumasi Drinks is set to bring a new income stream to cocoa producers by transforming cocoa fruit juice—a byproduct of cocoa bean harvesting that is typically discarded—into a marketable beverage.
As a first-time partner, Kumasi Drinks will receive a 1-year, $66,600 loan to launch its Côte d’Ivoire supply chain.
The company will begin with cocoa juice purchases from 231 farmers to supply Ivorio, a leading juice brand in West Africa.
“In future cycles, they expect to grow their sourcing capacity through the Ivorio partnership and reach 1,286 farmers over the next 3 years,” the Foundation stated.
A Brief Look Beyond Africa
Outside Africa, the Foundation also awarded:
- $50,000 to Chomateo in Bolivia to support 110 smallholder agroforestry farmers; and
- $400,000 to two U.S.-based organizations—Chef Ann Foundation and PEAS (Partners for Education, Agriculture and Sustainability)—to advance healthy school food programs and garden-based learning.
These projects, while valuable, received smaller portions of the total funds, with African-based initiatives forming the core of the Foundation’s global funding package.
Investing in Local Vision, Global Impact
Since 2005, the Whole Foods Market Foundation has invested over $197 million, supporting more than 16,750 partner organizations and schools in 81 countries.
The current funding round continues its commitment to nutrition, financial stability, and sustainable community-led change.
“Throughout the year, the Foundation provides funding to help its partners improve nutrition and create opportunities for financial stability,” the organization said.
“From supporting agroforestry in Bolivia to improving children’s access to healthy food in American schools, these carefully selected programs represent the Foundation’s dedication to fostering sustainable economic growth and resilience where it’s needed most.”
For full project details, visit: wholefoodsmarketfoundation.org/funding-announcements
About Whole Foods Market Foundation
The Whole Foods Market Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Austin, Texas. It works through three programs:
- Whole Planet – focused on microfinance and entrepreneurship;
- Whole Kids – promoting children’s health and nutrition;
- Whole Cities – improving access to healthy food in underserved communities.
Its mission: “To nourish people and the planet by providing access to essential resources to improve nutrition and create opportunities for financial stability.”
