San Ramon Gluten Free Baker Awarded $13,500 Whole Foods Market Grant

SAN RAMON, CA — A popular gluten free baker in San Ramon is among 15 other Bay Area entrepreneurs to earn a prestigious grant this year. So Far Gluten Free Delicacies will be awarded $13,500 as part of the annual Whole Foods Market Northern California’s 2017 Local Producer Grants. The program is a shopper-supported fundraising program that aims to boost entrepreneurship in the region.

On July 26, five percent of all sales at the 44 Whole Foods locations were donated to the Local Producer Grants program.

So Far owner and founder Vesta Grewal says she plans to use the grant money to help pay for additional digital marketing. So Far Gluten Free products can be ordered by phone or found in local Whole Foods Market.

“The Local Producer Grant program is an opportunity for Whole Foods Market to give back to small businesses that are working hard to make an impact in Northern California and Reno communities through their unique products and services,” said Rob Twyman, Regional President for Whole Foods Market in NorCal & Reno. “Local producers play a major role in what makes shopping at Whole Foods Market exciting, delicious, and truly reflective of the communities we serve. We are proud to continue supporting this program for the fourth consecutive year.”

Working Solutions, a nonprofit microlender committed to helping Bay Area entrepreneurs realize their dreams of business ownership, distributes the money to the recipients.

“Working Solutions and Whole Foods Market are partnering for the fourth year in a row to support the ecosystem of small businesses that drive our economy,” said Emily Gasner, Working Solutions CEO. “We’ve helped distribute over $600,000 in grant funds to nearly 100 local producers over the past three 5% Community Giving Days to help entrepreneurs make their dreams come true. We’re thrilled to complement our own mission of providing affordable microloans and free business consulting through this joint endeavor.”

See the full list of Bay Area business recipients.

Photo via Shutterstock