Essential Ingredients Podcast 037: Beyond the Basket: The Secret Ingredient to Building a Regenerative Community with Wen-Jay Ying
Beyond the Basket: The Secret Ingredient to Building a Regenerative Community with Wen-Jay Ying
Episode Description:
“It's having a genuine interest in your consumers, not just a transactional experience— That is the best way to build community.” —Wen-Jay Ying
Building a thriving community takes more than just a shared interest— it requires genuine connections, a sense of belonging, and a shared vision for a better future. In an age of impersonal online interactions, the power of face-to-face relationships and supporting local businesses has never been more important. Discover how one entrepreneur is redefining the way we think about community through the lens of food.
Wen-Jay Ying is the founder and CEO of Local Roots, a community-driven and minority-owned company in New York City. With over 14 years of experience in the local food movement, Wen-Jay continues to innovate and find new ways to connect people to their food sources.
Tune in as Justine and Wen-Jay share insights on traditional and online marketing strategies, operational models, the evolution of the local food movement, overcoming common entrepreneurial challenges, reflections on closing the business, and building community and customer relationships.
Meet Wen-Jay:
Wen-Jay Ying is the founder and CEO of Local Roots, a community-driven and minority-owned company in New York City. Wen-Jay started Local Roots in 2011 with the goal of making high-quality local and organic ingredients more accessible and convenient for New Yorkers. Under her leadership, Local Roots has grown into a trusted source for seasonal, regeneratively-grown produce and other local food products.
Wen-Jay is passionate about education, transparency, and empowering consumers to make better food choices. With over 14 years of experience in the local food movement, Wen-Jay continues to innovate and find new ways to connect people to their food sources.
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Episode Highlights:
01:51 Local Roots: Modernized CSA
04:15 Initial Marketing a Community Building
09:26 Operational Model and Customer Experience
14:37 The Evolution of the Local Food Movement
18:11 Overcoming Financial, Structural, and Operational Challenges
25:01 The Emotional Process of Closing a Business
32:03 Tips on Building a Community