WILCO joins Farmer Foodshare

The Chicago rock band Wilco and Triangle-based Farmer Foodshare today announce the 3rd Annual Farmer Foodshare Challenge. The band, local businesses and Farmers Markets will raise money and collect food donations for community members at risk of hunger or malnutrition during the winter months. Starting on September 24th, Wilco will challenge Triangle-area residents to support Farmer Foodshare through fresh food donations at ten farmers markets (see full list below). On September 27th, Wilco will play the Raleigh Amphitheatre in support of their new album, The Whole Love, out the same day. At the show, Farmer Foodshare will collect monetary donations and raffle off local business gift certificates. Wilco will donate the proceeds from the sale of their show poster to The Farmer Foodshare Fund. Joining Wilco on September 27th at the Raleigh Amphitheatre will be Nick Lowe. Tickets are $40 (reserved) and $30 (lawn) and are available with no additional ticketing charges at the Progress Energy Box Office. They're also available online at wilcoworld.net and ticketmaster.com.

Wilco Tote Bags for Local Businesses and Farmer Foodshare
Locopops, Empire Eats, Kung Fu, and The News & Observer have joined the effort. Fans can go to participating local businesses starting on September 9th to find out how to get a free Wilco tote bag. They are encouraged to fill those totes with fresh local food at local Farmers Markets on Saturday morning, September 24th, and donate filled bags at The Farmer Foodshare Donation Station.

"Farmer Foodshare has an innovative approach to fighting hunger, and Wilco is pleased to have the opportunity to work with this great organization to help connect local farms, community members and local businesses," said Benjamin Levin of Wilco's management company Tony Margherita Management. "It's gratifying to be able to do something which has an immediate positive impact within the community we're visiting. We're grateful for the opportunity and we hope our fans will join us in supporting this effort."

"Farmer Foodshare regularly raises thousands of pounds of fresh local food for people at risk of hunger while building healthy local community food systems," said Margaret Gifford, founder and executive director, Farmer Foodshare, "This year, with the support of Wilco, Locopops, Kung Fu Nation, Empire Eats, The News & Observer and The Farmers market Donation Stations, we are hoping to raise enough food and money for food to be able to provide a consistent supply of nutritious, fresh and local food to food insecure community members throughout the winter."

Participating Farmers Markets
Farmers markets across the Triangle and in Charlotte are participating. Atherton Farmers Market (Charlotte), Carrboro Farmers' Market, Chapel Hill Farmers' Market, Chatham Mills Farmers' Market (Pittsboro), Downtown Raleigh Farmers' Market, Durham Farmers' Market, Fearrington Farmers' Market, Hillsborough Farmers Market, Southern Village Farmers' Market and Western Wake Farmers' Market (Cary) will hold Farmer Foodshare Challenge events at their weekday and Saturday markets starting September 20th and culminating on September 27th at the show. Each market will set its own goal of food and funds - up to 1000 lbs or $1000 - for their market challenge.

The Chicago rock band will release their eighth studio album - The Whole Love - on September 27th through their newly launched dBpm Records. It follows the band's 2009 Grammy-nominated Wilco (The Album) and was recorded at the band's Chicago recording studio The Loft. The Whole Love features 12 new original tunes and is produced by Jeff Tweedy with Patrick Sansone and Tom Schick. The Whole Love is a veritable sonic stew, showcasing Wilco's far-reaching musical prowess (multiple guitars, keyboards, synthesizers and percussion plus Mellotron, strings, loops and more) perfectly accompanying Jeff Tweedy's provocative and insightful lyrics.

Farmer Foodshare is a nonprofit organization that raises funds and donations of fresh food for those at risk for hunger or malnutrition, while building healthy community food systems and enhancing community economic development. All donations are tax deductible. To volunteer or donate, contact margaret@farmerfoodshare.org. Farmer Foodshare is fiscally sponsored by the Abundance Foundation. To donate online, go to http://theabundancefoundation.org/fiscal-sponsorship/farmer-foodshare

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