DC Produce Cooperative Questions Answered

January 7, 2007

Greetings All,

I am writing you as a founder of a produce cooperative

in washington DC, Tanikka Watford- Cunningham. I

wanted to give you some information about the DC

Produce Coop and to answer some questions that have

arrived. To give you all a litttle background as to

why we started the coop. So you all will know that I

didn't just " wake up one day and decide to make some

produce boxes " .

To give a little history: before forming Cooperative

myself and my sister owned a produce wholesale

distribution company (Southern Solutions Produce, LLC

in Staley North Carolina We were the only African

American owned and African American Woman owned and

Operated Produce Distribution company that has existed

in the US and we handled military contracts supplying

troops produce (locally and overseas). Since we bought

and sold produce we knew how much people get gipped at

the store. From brain storming and trying to figure

out how our company can help the community more. From

there we added a Non for Profit called Healthy

Solutions that teaches the importance of produce, and

healthy lifestyles and started Freggie Boxes in North

Carolina to give people an oppurtunity get produce at

wholesale prices without having to purchase in bulk.

In March of 2006 We closed the warehouse and did not

renew our military contract and just did our

non-for-profit.

The program has done great in NC, but I wanted to do

the same thing here in DC, and from there I started

doing the produce Cooperative here in DC.

I don't get paid in any way by doing the coop, The

only gain I recieve from the coop is the same gain all

all of our members recieve which is good produce at a

good set price each week, and saving some money for

other household expenses.

My goals for the coop are to be able to do all aspects

of what Healthy Solutions does in NC helping the

community. Because knowledge is power if our

community understands the importance of a healthy life

style and healthy eating our community would change

for the better. Our children, women and men would be

healthier people. And alot of medical conditions that

our communities have would be rectified. But I can not

do all of it on my own but with participation from the

community and coop members with purchasing boxes and

growing in numbers to be able to do more as a group

would make it possible.

Back to subject:

Freggi boxes are prepackaged boxes with lots of

different fresh fruits and veggies to supply a family

of 2-8 a week (for some it lasts 2 weeks). The boxes

range in prices from $14-40 a box depending on your

box. The produce in the boxes also change each week.

Our cooperative is arranged to help every one have

access to quality fresh fruits and vegetables at good

prices. Our cooperative is free to join and our

members pre purchase produce boxes of different sizes

at a set price. (Small 14.00, Med. 23.00, Large 30.00,

Community 40.00 attached you will find the contents of

each box)

As of november 15, 2006 we started distibuting boxes

at the Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library on

Alabama Ave and 37th St SE Washington DC 20020 at

6:00- 7:00pm every Wednesday.

Organic: At this time our produce is conventional but

I work with growers I know personally who use very few

chemicals. I am looking into adding an organic box,

however I would need more members and members

dedicated to buying organic boxes to keep that going,

so if your interested in that aspect please let me

know.

Attached you will find all the information produce

boxes. You can also ask for membership at our

group at:

dcproducecoop

you can also email me at nikka53 to add your

name to membership or call (202)678-7090.

You can place orders by email, phone or fax, you can

also pay for your freggie box by check, credit card,

electronic check, and paypals (with or without a

paypals account)

Also edlerly who can not make it to the location but

would like to participate we can make arrangements for

them.

Thank you for support, and any more questions please

feel free to let me know

Tanikka

January 7, 2007

In a message dated 1/7/2007 1:12:49 AM Eastern Standard Time, nikka53 writes:

Your posting is heart warming. Thank you for all your service. I would like to connect with you, please write or call me off group. Perhaps I could offer something to your work.

I could help you to obtain it at wholesale prices. Most people on this group want only organic.

Thanks again for being for the people.

Zatiti

240-277-7971Greetings All,I am writing you as a founder of a produce cooperativein washington DC, Tanikka Watford- Cunningham. Iwanted to give you some information about the DCProduce Coop and to answer some questions that havearrived. To give you all a litttle background as towhy we started the coop. So you all will know that Ididn't just "wake up one day and decide to make someproduce boxes". To give a little history: before forming Cooperativemyself and my sister owned a produce wholesaledistribution company (Southern Solutions Produce, LLCin Staley North Carolina We were the only AfricanAmerican owned and African American Woman owned andOperated Produce Distribution company that has existedin the US and we handled military contracts supplyingtroops produce (locally and overseas). Since we boughtand sold produce we knew how much people get gipped atthe store. From brain storming and trying to figureout how our company can help the community more. Fromthere we added a Non for Profit called HealthySolutions that teaches the importance of produce, andhealthy lifestyles and started Freggie Boxes in NorthCarolina to give people an oppurtunity get produce atwholesale prices without having to purchase in bulk.In March of 2006 We closed the warehouse and did notrenew our military contract and just did ournon-for-profit. The program has done great in NC, but I wanted to dothe same thing here in DC, and from there I starteddoing the produce Cooperative here in DC.I don't get paid in any way by doing the coop, Theonly gain I recieve from the coop is the same gain allall of our members recieve which is good produce at agood set price each week, and saving some money forother household expenses.My goals for the coop are to be able to do all aspectsof what Healthy Solutions does in NC helping thecommunity. Because knowledge is power if ourcommunity understands the importance of a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating our community would changefor the better. Our children, women and men would behealthier people. And alot of medical conditions thatour communities have would be rectified. But I can notdo all of it on my own but with participation from thecommunity and coop members with purchasing boxes andgrowing in numbers to be able to do more as a groupwould make it possible.Back to subject:Freggi boxes are prepackaged boxes with lots ofdifferent fresh fruits and veggies to supply a familyof 2-8 a week (for some it lasts 2 weeks). The boxesrange in prices from $14-40 a box depending on yourbox. The produce in the boxes also change each week.Our cooperative is arranged to help every one haveaccess to quality fresh fruits and vegetables at goodprices. Our cooperative is free to join and ourmembers pre purchase produce boxes of different sizesat a set price. (Small 14.00, Med. 23.00, Large 30.00,Community 40.00 attached you will find the contents ofeach box) As of november 15, 2006 we started distibuting boxesat the Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library onAlabama Ave and 37th St SE Washington DC 20020 at6:00- 7:00pm every Wednesday. Organic: At this time our produce is conventional butI work with growers I know personally who use very fewchemicals. I am looking into adding an organic box,however I would need more members and membersdedicated to buying organic boxes to keep that going,so if your interested in that aspect please let meknow.Attached you will find all the information produceboxes. You can also ask for membership at our at:dcproducecoopyou can also email me at nikka53 to add yourname to membership or call (202)678-7090. You can place orders by email, phone or fax, you canalso pay for your freggie box by check, credit card,electronic check, and paypals (with or without apaypals account) Also edlerly who can not make it to the location butwould like to participate we can make arrangements forthem.Thank you for support, and any more questions pleasefeel free to let me knowTanikka