Whole Foods Market(R) Announces Eco-Conscious Youth Hosts for 'Whole Earth Generation...( Six Chosen from Hundreds of Hopefuls ...),Health

Six Chosen from Hundreds of Hopefuls Participating in National Casting Call

For Inspired Green Youth

AUSTIN, Texas, April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of Earth Month, Whole Foods Market, the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket, today announced that six fresh-faced, eco-conscious personalities were chosen from hundreds of entries to host its new video podcast series "Whole Earth Generation," which is dedicated to raising environmental awareness among today's youth.

A national casting call of 8 to 17-year-olds was held in March to discover green-minded hosts for the series. Submissions were accepted on YouTube and in person at Whole Foods Market stores in New York, Chicago and Austin during a special one-day event. Ultimately, six winners -- three from the YouTube entries and three from the in-store auditions -- were selected among hundreds of entries from around the country. In addition to landing the role as online talent, each new Whole Earth Generation host is awarded select prizes from some of the program's participating green sponsors.

"It is so exciting to see the motivation and passion among kids today about environmental issues. Through this program, we are observing that children are bringing innovative ideas to their teachers and parents while acting within their communities to spread the word about positive environmental change," said Heather Kennedy, director of marketing for Whole Foods Market. "The young winners are green to their new roles as eco-hosts, yet each bring a real knowledge of "green" well beyond their tween/teen years."

The online search led to casting:

-- Erin Schrode, 16, of San Francisco, with a video glimpse of her

morning routine as a "green girl";

-- Burt Chaikin, 14, of Highland Park, Ill., where he acts as the "host"

of a recycling themed game show; and

-- Lil' Pepe, only 9, of Miami who is a super yo
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