Brian and Joe Nicholson, Jr., of Red Jacket Orchards used a local producer loan from Whole Foods Markets to erect tunnels over two acres of apricots, plums, and cherries. In these days of tight credit, it’s hard to imagine somebody wanting to loan money to small farmers for expansion or capital-intensive projects. But a retailer—not a banker—has set aside millions as part of a unique loan program designed specifically for local producers. New York’s Red Jacket Orchards is the first, and so far only, tree fruit producer to take advantage of the local producers loan program of Whole Foods Market. […]