History

Since 2004, Healthy Solutions has worked to promote healthy lifestyles in underserved communities.  By purchasing produce in bulk, we were able to offer residents of unprivileged areas the opportunity to purchase low cost, fresh fruits and vegetables.  Later, this progressed to become our Freggie Box program, in which several produce items were packed into a modestly priced box.  The Freggie Boxes were sold on a weekly basis and marketed specifically to underserved areas. 

In 2005, Healthy Solutions started its Health Eaters Future Leaders Program (HEFLP).  The HELFP provided healthy snacks to students in several North Carolina afterschool programs. 

Additionally, the HELFP sought to teach these students about growing and healthy eating in order to combat the surge in childhood obesity.  Students were educated about agriculture, the food supply chain, and entrepreneurship.  The HEFLP was a very successful program. 

 The author of the HELFP, Healthy Solutions co-founder Tanikka Cunningham, has fostered many relationships with local farmers, which are an asset to Healthy Solutions.  Her invaluable knowledge of the agriculture industry has enabled Healthy Solutions to start and maintain produce co-operatives in North Carolina and Washington, DC.  In Wards 7 and 8, the co-op is a thriving and much needed source of low cost produce.  Additionally, Healthy Solutions' designation as a 501(c) (3) has helped to generate community confidence and trust.  Because our organization was founded by two entrepreneurs, Healthy Solutions is uniquely poised to not only create and maintain the co-op, but to foster entrepreneurial skills in the youth workers.

The Co-op Education Project was implemented in 2007 when Healthy Solutions extended its co-op model to include the education of youth on all aspects of agriculture. The youth-centered program includes information on how food is grown, the nutritional value foods, and its source. We focus on teaching the youth not only how to run the co-op but the importance of the co-op model in the community. It allows youth to learn and then teach others the importance the source of their food.  Healthy Solutions brings food directly from the farm into the community, teaching kids the source of their food and educating adults in the community on issues we are trying to reverse (I.e. Obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes). Within The Co-op Education Project we have started to do one-on-one training with retailers and grocers to inform them how to handle fresh fruits and vegetables in store. We also provide them with training on how to source fresh fruits and vegetables and how to operate a co-op in store.

 In 2008 Healthy Solutions started the Co-operative Market Program.  The Co-operative Market Program functions just like an outdoor farmers market but without our farmers having to stand at the table to sell their goods. We work with our network of farms and set up a market outdoors for community members to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables in their neighborhoods that lack access to healthy foods.  The market allows members who forget to preorder or members who are not familiar with our co-op model to still have access to healthy affordable foods. The Co-operative Markets function regularly during the month on Fridays and Saturdays.  The Co-operative Market Program was piloted at Benning Terrace Public Housing in December of 2008 and it had over 85 families purchase during the first 2 market days.

 In 2009 Healthy Solutions started its Healthy East of the River (H.E.R.) and Healthy Solutions 4 Life series.  H.E.R. was formed with the aim of teaching women and mothers in East of the Anacostia River communities the importance of healthy eating habits for their families, while also giving them a peer-to- peer support system.  H.E.R. also allows women who are interested in furthering their knowledge of healthy cooking transition into a culinary career by giving them cooking instruction by accredited chefs, and helps them with job placement after training. Healthy Solutions 4 Life series gives community members of all age's access to nutrition, cooking, and health classes to help improve of all health in the community.