Deeply Rooted Produce Mobile Grocery Store

We find that there are three problems facing Detroit today: poor health, lack of jobs, and inadequate education. All three of those things relate to one another. Without proper education, one is not perceived as qualified enough to get a living wage, therefore becoming depressed and/or mentally unstable and unable to provide for their family. However, if the roles are reversed and proper education is provided to afford ways to make a living wage or supplemental income, thus creating a “job”, mental and physical health improve as self-esteem is improved.

Here at Deeply Rooted Produce, we have a mission to increase self-sufficiency among Detroiters and provide proper education so that individuals can feel competent enough to take the steps to provide for their family. We know it takes hard work, dedication, and consistency to do better. If someone is willing to learn, we will guarantee that it will be worthwhile and that the entire family can benefit. We offer nutrition education workshops, health assessments & consultations with qualified health professionals, and a mobile grocery that will service underserved areas in Detroit, MI.

The purpose of this fundraising campaign is to be able to purchase the step-van for our mobile grocery store. Fundraising for the step van will allow us to have our van ready for the rode in 2019. It will be equipped with all Detroit city and Michigan manufactured products including community members that participate in our market garden programs. It will be engineered to be energy efficient and will serve as a solution to the lack of fresh locally grown produce that faces Detroiters today.

"But you're an LLC, why are you fundraising and not asking for a loan?" you may ask. Well, to promote our message of self-sustainability, we want to be confident in what we are doing and want the support of our community members without overhead debt. Your support is greatly appreciated. Please feel free to visit our website for more information at www.deeplyrootedproduce.com or comment or this fundraising campaign with questions and/or comments.

(July-November 2018) While fundraising: Locate vacant lots and research steps to acquisition

(January & February 2019) We will purchase equipment and supplies for our operations. Simultaneously, we will inhabit multiple vacant lots in the Northwest area of Detroit and will build raised beds for public community gardening use.  

(March-April 2019) We will purchase the step van for the mobile grocery store and build out the shelving and interior design.

(May 2019) We will then start our nutrition education class series and host community dinners.  We also will solidify vendor inquiries for our mobile grocery store supply and have a fully operational mobile grocery store supplied by Detroit local produce and local entrepreneurs.

Remember those three problems we mentioned in our story above?

• Health: We will make Detroiter’s healthier both mentally and physically by giving them piece of mind, decreasing their grocery store budget, and giving them access to affordable fresh & local ingredients

• Jobs: We will be providing jobs for Detroiters who are willing to learn trade skills that help put food on the table for their family and friends. Not only will we give opportunities for community members to make money but Deeply Rooted Produce will need valued and well-trained staff to care for our customers when we open our mobile grocery store in May of 2019.

• Education: We will provide many different learning opportunities for our fellow community members and teach very valuable skills that can be used over lifetimes. With our nutrition education classes, participants will learn about the different nutrients that our bodies thrive on and where to source those nutrients. Participants will also learn how to properly prepare foods in safe ways while collaborating with other local businesses and community members.

We believe that the access to high quality items for affordable prices is not available to certain areas of the city of Detroit. With economic climate changes and declines in health of the citizens of the city of Detroit, we feel as though we must facilitate empowerment to our community members by increasing the reliance on self & other trusted community members. We value holistic community health, community engagement, community education, overall self-sufficiency and accountability and will provide the educational resources to help community members thrive whilst facilitating personal growth and development.