Whole Planet Foundation (WPF), a Whole Foods Market nonprofit that makes grants and loans to microfinance institutions in developing countries, announced in March the creation of a coalition of natural foods companies dubbed the Whole Planet Foundation Supplier Alliance for Microcredit (WPFSAM). WPFSAM has pledged USD 1.05 million over three years to WPF. WPF’s operating expenses will continue to be funded by Whole Foods Market, which invests USD 1 million annually in the effort. The newly committed funds will be loaned to an estimated 6,500 families via implementation partners that include Grameen Trust in Costa Rica, Guatemala and India; Fundación Adelante in Honduras; and Pro Mujer in Nicaragua. A partial transcript and online audio are available of Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus’s interview regarding this commitment by Washington’s National Public Radio.

Whole Foods Market is the world’s leading natural and organic foods supermarket with 2007 sales of USD 6.6 billion. WPFSAM partners include natural product suppliers Allegro Coffee Company, food-maker Back to Nature, Balance Bar, food-maker Hain Celestial Group, tea-maker ITO EN, Naked Juice, supplement-maker New Chapter, personal care product-maker Seventh Generation, chip-maker Stacy’s and Whole Foods Market.