Whole Foods Market(R) Partners With Teens Turning Green to Launch Project Green Prom and Nationwide Contest

Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFMI), in partnership with Teens Turning Green, the national coalition of teens educating peers and community members about safe, healthy, and eco-lifestyle choices, today announces the launch of Project Green Prom, a multi-faceted effort to encourage teens around the country to make thoughtful, earth-friendly decisions and purchases around prom season.

"Through Project Green Prom, we hope that teens will realize that small changes in their beauty, fashion, decor, flower and transportation choices can extend beyond prom and into their everyday lifestyle," said Jeremiah McElwee, Senior Global Whole Body Coordinator, Whole Foods Market. "Whole Foods Market is thrilled to partner with Teens Turning Green to provide teens from around the country the opportunity to demonstrate how easy it is to make eco-lifestyle choices that begin with their prom and will hopefully last a lifetime."

Project Green Prom kicks off nationwide with an online video contest for high school juniors and seniors where contestants can enter to win a complete Green Prom Makeover along with other great prizes including a trip to New York, a one-of-a-kind eco-prom dress by notable fashion designer Bahar Shahpar, eco-shoes by olsen Haus, and more. Teens are encouraged to create and submit creative three-minute videos about how they propose to green their prom. Submissions can be uploaded to the Teens Turning Green YouTube site at teensturninggreen.org through March 30th. All videos will be posted on the Teens Turning Green YouTube site through March 30th.

"Project Green Prom is part of an overarching initiative to educate teens about the safe and healthy choices they can make in their daily lives and inspire action that will sustain the planet," said Judi Shils, Founder, Teens Turning Green. "As we continue to engage young people in choosing an all-encompassing eco-lifestyle, prom is a natural entry point for teens to educate their peers on the easy ways to make sustainable lifestyle choices."

On April 6th, Whole Foods Market and Teens Turning Green, along with a "prom committee" of judges and participating designers, will announce the grand prize and three runners-up winners at a Project Green Prom launch event at the Whole Foods Market Tribeca store in New York City. McElwee and Shils, along with Eva Chen, Teen Vogue Beauty Director, Jane Iredale, Founder jane irelade - The Skin Care Makeup(R), Joshua Onysko, Founder and CEO Pangea Organics(TM), John Masters, Founder John Masters(TM) Organics; Bahar Shahpar, Sustainable Fashion Designer; Zem Joaquin, Founder and CEO ecofabulous.com, and Summer Rayne Oakes, Model/Green Activist, and other celebrity, fashion, beauty and green leaders will make up the panel of judges determining the contest winners.

The grand prize winner will fly to New York City to participate in the "Prom Day" event and receive an eco-prom dress and shoes, a bevy of natural beauty products, as well as an eco-teen lounge from Pottery Barn Teen(R) and refreshments from Whole Foods Market at prom, plus other exciting prizes. Runners-up winners will receive a variety of prizes including an eco-prom dress.

Whole Foods Market and Teens Turning Green are proud to bring together a collection of some of their greenest vendor partners to participate and support the program including jane iredale - The Skin Care Makeup, Burt's Bees(R), John Masters Organics, Weleda, Natracare(R), Organic Essentials(TM), Pangea Organics, Pottery Barn Teen, Seventh Generation(R), Tropicana(R) and others.

CONTACT: Mara Engel Wedeck
212.253.0474