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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>The University Heights Whole Foods Market in Rhode Island did an amazing thing. They removed pollinator-dependent products from their shelves—and the store looked bare.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><a href="http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/06/12/4938863/this-is-what-your-grocery-store.html">http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/06/12/4938863/this-is-what-your-grocery-store.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>This is what your grocery store looks like without bees.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Whole Foods Market® partners with The Xerces Society to "Share the Buzz" and protect pollinator populations<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>By Whole Foods Market <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>PROVIDENCE, R.I., June 12, 2013 — /PRNewswire/ -- One of every three bites of food comes from plants pollinated by honeybees and other pollinators. Yet, major declines in bee populations threaten the availability of many fresh ingredients consumers rely on for their dinner tables.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(Photo: <a href="http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130612/DA27199" target="_blank">http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130612/DA27199</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(Logo: <a href="http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121015/DA92273LOGO" target="_blank">http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121015/DA92273LOGO</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>To raise awareness of just how crucial pollinators are to our food system, the <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/university" target="_blank">University Heights Whole Foods Market store</a> temporarily removed all produce that comes from plants dependent on pollinators. They pulled from shelves 237 of 453 products – 52 percent of the department's normal product mix.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Products removed included:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Apples <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Onions <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Avocados <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Carrots <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Mangos <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Lemons <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Limes <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Honeydew <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Cantaloupe <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Zucchini <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Summer squash <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Eggplant <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Cucumbers <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Celery <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Green onions <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Cauliflower <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Leeks <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Bok choy <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Kale <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Broccoli <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Broccoli rabe <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Mustard greens<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>To help support honeybee populations, for every pound of organic summer squash sold at Whole Foods Market stores from June 12-25 the company will donate 10 cents to The Xerces Society for pollinator preservation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>"Pollinators are a critical link in our food system. More than 85% of earth's plant species – many of which compose some of the most nutritional parts of our diet – require pollinators to exist. Yet we continue to see alarming declines in bee numbers," said Eric Mader, assistant pollinator conservation director at The Xerces Society. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>"Our organization works with farmers nationwide to help them create wildflower habitat and adopt less pesticide-intensive practices. These simple strategies can tip the balance back in favor of bees."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Whole Foods Market offers four more ways to "bee part of the solution." Details are online at <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/sharethebuzz" target="_blank">www.wholefoodsmarket.com/sharethebuzz</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Bee organic: </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Buying organic is an easy way to support pollinators. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Bee savvy at home:</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> Most pest problems can be solved without toxic and persistent pesticides. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Bee a gardener:</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> Plant bee-friendly flowers and fruits. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Bee a smart shopper</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>: Look for the "Share the Buzz" signs throughout stores to support vendors also donating to The Xerces Society. <o:p></o:p></span></li><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=circle><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>"Queen Bee" </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>partners ($25,000): <a href="http://www.mrsmeyers.com/" target="_blank">Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day</a> and Hain Celestial (<a href="http://www.maranathafoods.com/" target="_blank">MaraNatha</a>, <a href="http://www.westsoytofu.com/" target="_blank">WestSoy</a>, <a href="http://www.terrachips.com/" target="_blank">Terra Chips</a>, <a href="http://www.arrowheadmills.com/" target="_blank">Arrowhead Mills</a>) <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level2 lfo2'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>"Worker Bee" partners</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> ($5,000): <a href="http://www.attunefoods.com/" target="_blank">Attune Foods</a>, <a href="http://www.cutieskids.com/" target="_blank">Cuties</a>, <a href="http://www.kashi.com/" target="_blank">Kashi</a>, <a href="http://www.sweetleaftea.com/" target="_blank">Sweet Leaf Teas</a>, <a href="http://www.muirglen.com/" target="_blank">Muir Glen Organic</a>, <a href="http://www.talentigelato.com/" target="_blank">Talenti Gelato</a>, <a href="http://sodeliciousdairyfree.com/" target="_blank">So Delicious</a>, <a href="http://udisglutenfree.com/" target="_blank">Udi's Gluten Free</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Contact: Gina DeCandia, Sharp Communications, <a href="mailto:gd@sharpthink.com" target="_blank">gd@sharpthink.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>