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In this episode, you will hear from Wen-Jay Ying, Founder of Local Roots, a modern CSA that recently ended its core operations after 14 years. Wen-Jay discusses her journey, starting from her passion for local food and her decision to create a business that supports organic and sustainably grown ingredients. She highlights the challenges faced during the pandemic, including increased demand and operational stress. Despite the success, Wen-Jay decided to pivot and is now focused on new business ideas. If you are looking to pivot or start a new chapter, this episode is for you!Connect with David on InstagramConnect with Wen-Jay on Instagram
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. Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook X YouTube Pinterest Connect with NextGen Purpose: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube 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
Wen-Jay Ying (she/her) is the founder of Local Roots NYC, a cafe, market space and CSA provider in Brooklyn. She's a spokeswoman and cultural translator for regenerative agriculture, working towards making local food resonate with a growing and more diverse demographic. Wen-Jay believes the way we eat can change the world and is dedicated to healing our local food system and bringing urbanites closer to their food source. In this episode, Emily and Wen-Jay discuss how distance away from farms affects the quality of your food, why soil health matters, eating locally in an urban area, getting curious beyond the label and taking small steps to supporting your local community and a local food system.You can follow Wen-Jay on Instagram and also follow Local Roots on Instagram.You can find full transcripts, links, and other information on our website.
Wen-Jay Ying is a woman on a mission. The founder of Local Roots — a new kind of C.S.A. and, since last year, a physical cafe and market space — Ying has for the past 11 years been single-mindedly driven to bring hyperlocal nutritious food and produce to communities that need it most. But she does it in a way that is educational without being preachy, fun and almost punk rock. Which is not a stretch to say: Years ago, Ying received a piece of advice that set her on the path to where she is now … from Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne. Brooklyn news and views you can use: bkmag.com Email: hello@bkmag.com Follow along on Facebook: Brooklyn Magazine Twitter: @brooklynmag Instagram: @brooklynmagazine Follow Brian Braiker on Twitter: @slarkpope
Eating local and seasonally is THE BEST way to UP your nutrition and health. But, we all know acess to that isn’t always easy- especially if you live in big cities. That’s why Wen-Jay started Local Roots, a subscription based farmers market that brings quality produce to those in the NYC area. But, when COVID hit, Wen-Jay shifted her entire business in just 2 days. Becoming an essential worker, she shares why she kept going, the mission that fuels her, and what it’s been like as an Asian American these last few months. Follow WenJay on Instagram: @wenjayying Learn more about Local Roots: https://localrootsnyc.com/collections/weekly-subscriptions The Truthiest Life on instagram @thetruthiestlife Host @Lisahayim To support TTL, subscribe, follow, or share episodes with family and friends who could benefit If you’re loving TTL, Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-truthiest-life/id1535516122?uo=2 Guest submissions, please fill out this form: https://thewellnecessities.typeform.com/to/pODTLasN Edited by Houston Tilley Intro Jingle by Alyssa Chase aka @findyoursails Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Listen in as Feedfeed Food Editor Alexa Santos virtually sits down to dinner with Wen-Jay Ying, @WenJayYing, founder & CEO of Local Roots NYC, @LocalRootsNYC. Local Roots is a mission-driven business that connects New Yorkers with local farmers and sustainable, regional growers. Wen-Jay talks about her Chinese heritage and cooking influences, as well as why eating & cooking ingredients from local farms have completely changed her life. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Feedfeed by becoming a member!The Feedfeed is Powered by Simplecast.
Local fruits and veggies and regenerative agriculture can be FUN? Wen-Jay Ying, the founder of Local Roots NYC, a local farm subscription service for city folks, enlightens us with her empowering and enlivening energy! Wen-Jay is revolutionizing the local, organic food game and helping to save the environment along the way. At the end, we play a dancing game that is way too hilarious to miss! I highly recommend watching the visual video of this interview, which you can watch on Instagram @be.womenspired.
Wen-Jay Ying is the founder and Boss at Local Roots NYC, a small business that has revolutionized the way New Yorkers shop for food. Subscribe online for 3 months of food that comes direct from a farm within 2 hours of NYC. Pick up at a neighborhood bar, cafe or opt for contact-less delivery. It's a customized farmers market brought right to you. Wen-Jay believes the way we eat can change the world and is dedicated to healing our local food system. She was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by former Mayor Bloomberg, New Yorker of the Week by NY1, Ones To Watch by Cherry Bombe, and was a special guest invited to attend the 50th year anniversary UN Global Goals Gala due to her work in the field of sustainability and agriculture. Ying has spoken on various panels and podcasts about regenerative agriculture, how to reduce food waste, and female entrepreneurship, and is a guest instructor at the International Culinary Center. Her social impact business journey can be seen in Viceland's show Hustle. In This Episode We Talk About: Growing up Asian American and choosing a non-traditional career. How Wen-Jay got interested in agriculture and locally grown food. Is our food even real? Why it's so important to eat local. How she started Local Roots, a subscription service for organic vegetables and fruits. How she was able to build an online subscription business in 2011 when this form of e-commerce was not mainstream yet. See all show notes on Awaken and Align Podcast Start your journey of healing, spirituality and self-growth. Learn Reiki I with me - Virtually! Connect with Awaken and Align: If you enjoyed the podcast and you feel called, please share it and tag me! Subscribe, rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. Your rating and review help more people discover it! Follow on Instagram @awakenandalign and let me know your favorite guests, lessons or any show requests.
This episode was recorded in Samsung’s 837 building in the Meatpacking District @samsungmobileusa #samsungexperience Follow Wen-Jay Ying Instagram: @wenjayying @LocalRootsNYCWebsite: localrootsnyc.com Follow me: Instagram: @freckledfoodie Website: freckledfoodie.com Youtube: Cameron Rogers / Freckled Foodie Pinterest: Freckled Foodie This episode was edited by Tim Flanzbaum
If you measure an interaction with someone by how much it affects and improves your life, my conversation with Julian was profound. Why? His conversation led me to start meditating regularly---something I've considered for year but never implemented, until the morning after our conversation.Longtime listeners know I've meditated for nearly 15 years. I've chosen infrequent deep dives---5-10-day retreats with no reading, writing, phone, internet, or talking---finding that I've gotten most of the value of daily practice from my other sidchas. The morning after our conversation, I started and have kept going since. I credit Julian's conversation.I met Julian after hearing an episode of his podcast featuring Wen-Jay Ying, an entrepreneur who founded one of the CSAs I get my vegetables from in New York. I learned more about his podcast: he hosts well-known guests to speak about the environment and human views on it. He focuses on emotions, leadership, action, authenticity. He also does solo episodes sharing his thoughts. He coaches on leadership.In other words, he works similarly to me. His voice is different, though, so you'll hear from Julian a different approach to similar topics. One of my first observations from his talking was on the speed of my thinking, which could be more relaxed. I predict Julian will get you thinking too.I recommend listening to my appearing on his podcast.Talking to Julian put me in a different frame than usual, more introspective. I'm not sure if it's coincidence so soon after my Springsteen episode and my episode with my mom, or maybe an effect of the global lockdown. It's led me thinking more openly of the lockdown as an opportunity, not to detract from the experiences of people in pain, dying, or risking their health for others who are.What might come of our time locked down?What will happen on its own?What won't happen unless we take responsibility?How can we serve others?---Julian hosting me on Greenplanet BlueplanetJulian hosting food entrepreneur and friend Wen-Jay Ying See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Are you a proponent of plant-based eating? Love farmers’ markets? Then you’ll love this episode with Local Roots founder Wen-Jay Ying and cookbook author/chef Amy Chaplin. Wen-Jay shares how the lead singer of The Flaming Lips inspired her career path and led to the founding of Local Roots, a CSA based in New York City. In the second half, Amy joins us to talk about her new cookbook, Whole Food Cooking Every Day, and reveals her plans for a restaurant in Tribeca that she’s opening with her sister. Also, learn why Hetty McKinnon, the cookbook author Neighborhood, Community, and Family, why she thinks Leetal Arazi of New York Shuk is the Bombe. This episode is presented by the book Sugar Free Three by Michele Promaulayko.
Wen-Jay is the founder and Boss at Local Roots NYC, a small business that has revolutionized the way New Yorkers shop for food. The idea is to Subscribe online for 3 months of food that comes direct from a farm within 2 hours of NYC. Pick up at a neighborhood bar, cafe or have it delivered. It's a customized farmers market brought right to you. > Why eating local matters > Why organic food matters > Regenerative practices everyone can embrace in their daily routines Wen-Jay believes the way we eat can change the world and is dedicated to healing our local food system. She was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by former Mayor Bloomberg, New Yorker of the Week by NY1, Ones To Watch by Cherry Bombe, and was a special guest invited to attend the 50th year anniversary UN Global Goals Gala due to her work in the field of sustainability and agriculture. She has spoken on various panels and podcasts about regenerative agriculture, how to reduce food waste, and female entrepreneurship, and is a guest instructor at the International Culinary Center.
Local Roots NYC is a different kind of CSA. the food comes from many farms, but all with the same mission of supporting farmers and producers and bringing that great food to home cooks, creating a community and connections between the makers and the users. Tune in to hear Harry and founder Wen-Jay Ying talk farming, the New York music scene and more! Feast Yr Ears is powered by Simplecast.
The local food movement is gaining popularity, and we’re here for it! We’re chatting today with Wen-Jay Ying of Local Roots NYC, a CSA in New York City. We’re discussing how regenerative agriculture supports our long-term ability to farm (and why the time is now to make a change!). Plus, we learn the value ofRead more The post 74: Eating Locally, Regenerative Agriculture, + Empowerment Through Food | Local Roots NYC appeared first on Laura E Diez.
Wen-Jay Ying had no idea she would end up passionate about the food industry when a dear friend introduced her to a local CSA. Having grown up on bulk discount food products, Wen-Jay found herself disheartened by the cycle of buying poor quality food from corner stores which resulted in health conditions that drove them back to the same stores for pharmaceuticals. It was a vicious cycle she saw among her neighbors in New York City so she set out to create an alternative. In pursuit of a sense of local community, Wen-Jay launched Local Roots NYC which connects consumers to farmers and impacts both ends of the food chain. We’re talking with Wen-Jay about food systems, sustainability, and what community really means to her.
We know eating local is better, but it’s not always easy. We’re left wondering if we should head to the farmers market, join a CSA, or just seek out local foods at the grocery store? There are often more questions than answers, which is why we could not have been more excited to have Wen-Jay Ying, the founder of Local Roots and local foods enthusiast, on the mindbodygreen podcast. She talks about why she became passionate about creating access to local food and how you can incorporate more local foods into your diet right away. One of the best ways to experiment with local foods is through community-supported agriculture or CSA, said Wen-Jay. A traditional CSA model usually requires a 6-month commitment where the consumer picks up local vegetables at a specific location from local farmers. We discuss the pros and cons of joining a traditional CSA model, and as well as the ins and outs of Local Roots, an alternative CSA model, which offers delivery or pick-up options, a variety of vegetables, and the option to pay by season, week, or day. No matter which model you opt for, Wen-Jay says her favorite part of being in a CSA is the community that surrounds local foods: the people, farmers, and culture. When eating locally, however, you can run the risk of getting bored with eating the same veggie that’s in season, explains, Wen-Jay. What do you do with a week’s worth of beets? Here are Wen-Jay’s tips for getting creative regardless of the ingredients you have. Enjoy this episode, sponsored by SO Delicious! Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or Stitcher, and sign up for our podcast newsletter!
Green Dreamer: Sustainability and Regeneration From Ideas to Life
To address the unsustainability of our current food production, how can we work towards having localized and regenerative food systems? What do we need to know about the mislabeling, or greenwashing, of our food products? Sharing her wisdom here is Wen-Jay Ying, Founder and CEO of Local Roots NYC. Let's dive in! *Become a patron for bonus episodes, access to our Green Dreamer Network, and more: www.greendreamer.com/support HIGHLIGHTS [5:55] Wen-Jay: "There is so much content about food out there that it can feel kind of intimidating. But if you can make it really fun and a little sexy, I think people are more likely to listen." [10:20] Kaméa: "Were there any specific roadblocks that you faced as a female, minority business owner?" [14:25] Kaméa: "How did we come to adopt such an unsustainable food system in America?" [18:35] Wen-Jay explains how localized food systems can actually boost nutrition in our foods and therefore, also their flavors. [21:26] Wen-Jay and Kaméa discuss how not all whole foods are equal. [23:42] Wen-Jay explains talks about greenwashing and mislabeling in the food industry. [25:31] Kaméa: "How do you think we, as consumers, can better support sustainable food systems without letting the complexity overwhelm us?" Thanks for bringing your light! Find the full show notes with links and resources at www.greendreamer.com/121, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, and share your #1 takeaway from the episode tagging our featured guest and me @KameaChayne to spread the light and to let us know you're tuning in! *Enjoying Green Dreamer? Become a patron for bonus episodes, access to our Green Dreamer Network, and more: www.greendreamer.com/support
Welcome back to another episode of Willing to Wander! In this episode, I'm super excited to be joined with Wen-Jay Ying, the founder of Local Roots NYC. Local Roots is an alternative CSA model, that provides city dwellers with fresh produce from farms all within a 2 hour drive from the city. You buy into a season's worth of produce and pick it up weekly from a convenient market location near you (mostly coffee shops and bars!). Wen-Jay saw a need to modernize the traditional CSA model, while making it fun and more community based, with monthly cooking events! Listen to hear more about how Wen-Jay turned her discouragement from losing her job into motivation to change the food system, from the ground up. Check out www.localrootsnyc.com to learn more about the membership options as well as to receive your first week trial if you live in NYC!Also follow them on Instagram @localrootsnyc to get food inspiration- even if you aren't in the city. And check out my website: www.willingtowander.com for photos and additional links everything Local Roots!Thanks again for listening and stay tuned for more episodes soon!
Wen-Jay Ying of Local Roots NYC describes her innovative CSA model that lets you pick and choose a personalized farm share online. She eloquently explains how to reduce food waste, enhance community, boost nutrition, and topple the patriarchy, all while serving home made veggie broth and simultaneously starring in a docuseries for VICELAND. Plus, find out why Wen-Jay is just so darn intrigued by cheesecake.
While the growth of farmers markets and CSAs have helped small farms sell their food locally over the past few decades, both models come with challenges that have become increasingly apparent. Hudson Valley Harvest and Local Roots NYC are two businesses that have introduced new channels for farms to sell their food to local eaters and rebuild regional food systems in the process. In this episode, host Lisa Held talks to farmer Paul Alward about how his experiences in the field informed the model for Hudson Valley Harvest and to Wen-Jay Ying about how she created a new kind of CSA after witnessing common barriers to consumer buy-in. They discuss their experiences figuring out what works and doesn't work in terms of getting more local food to local eaters in order to support farmers as efficiently as possible. The Farm Report is powered by Simplecast
This week on Eating Matters, we provide a recap of the Good Festival, a Brooklyn-based conference started by Wen-Jay Ying, Founder and Director of Local Roots NYC. Wen-Jay joins host Jenna Liut in the studio to discuss the key conference themes of compassion, communication and collaboration – not just hippie ideals but also a prescription for a healthy food system. Tune in to learn how to make choices that celebrate and benefit our local food economy. Later in the show, Leo Pollock discusses his Rhode Island-based startup, Compost Plant, the first full service composter in the state.
This week on a brand-new, jam-packed episode of The Farm Report host Erin Fairbanks kicks off the show chatting about the recently released Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover and its quaint farm setting before delving into a discussion with Julie Gouldener of Food & Water Watch, a non-governmental organization and consumer rights group which focuses on corporate and government accountability relating to food, water, and fishing. Julie takes listeners through some timely food legislation moving through both the house and senate to keep an eye on, known as the Bay Tax Equity Act and the Farmers’ Rights Act. Erin also speaks with Erica Dorn, a consultant for the Food + Enterprise Summit 2015, to highlight what attendees can expect to learn from the upcoming summit as well as her experiences working with community supported agriculture programs (CSAs). Wen-Jay Ying, the Program Director and Founder of Local Roots NYC, a mission driven organization that creates a local food culture through an alternative CSA model is also brought into the conversation with both guests sharing details about their CSA experiences. Erin gets Erica and Wen-Jay’s thoughts on growing a business, how to divvy up time spent working on your business, plus how they manage their least favorite tasks and making work more efficient. This program was brought to you by Heritage Foods USA. “[The Farmers’ Rights Act] is meant to bring some equity and some balance into a system that we view as pretty broken, which is the poultry industry on the Eastern shore. I’m talking about the handful of large institutions like Perdue, not the small family farmers or contact farmers that work with them.” [4:30] —Julie Gouldener on The Farm Report
On this episode of Snacky Tunes, host Darin Bresnitz talks with Wen-Jay Ying & Kris Delatorre of The Local Roots NYC. They’re organizing and hosting The Good Festival, a biennial party that celebrates one-of-a-kind local music and food initiatives. It inspires New Yorkers to make, cook, and do right in their own kitchens and backyards. Throughout the night, bands will perform as artisans and urban gardeners share their skills between bands’ sets. It’s a celebration music. dance and food. The festival is taking place October 11th at Friends & Lovers. In the second half of the show, Darin talks to Lew Bryson, Managing Editor of Whisky Advocate. They discuss the widespread knowledge of beer and the over-saturation of breweries all over the country. WhiskyFest is a festival that Whisky Advocate organizes. It offers people the opportunity to taste from a selection of more than 300 whiskies from around the world; many of them rare and exclusive. On October 29th ,WhiskyFest is going to celebrate it’s 40th year. Musical guest for the day is Toy Cities, a post punk Indie Rock band based in Brooklyn. This program was brought to you by The International Culinary Center. “It’s an intimate night,, everyone is super excited, they’re experiencing something new. I think the people that go for the bands, generally don’t know their interest about being more sustainable and this is a really nice introduction to them. On the other side, the people who come for the local food systems, they may not be aware about all these amazing bands living in their neighborhoods.” [8:00] “There will be a chef in the back yard making ice cream fills, carmel donuts…that in itself is how our festival’s different.” [9:30] —Wen-Jay Ying on Snacky Tunes “John Hansell, editor and publisher of the magazine, tells this story and well to be honestly after sitting down with him and drinking, I’ve come to the realization that he’s telling the truth…it came to him in a dream.” [22:30] “You go over there and ask for the stuff under the counter. I got to tell you, that’s the best part about whiskyFest, somebody always brings something like….here try this.” [27:30] —Lew Bryson on Snacky Tunes
For the final Eat Your Words episode of 2013, Cathy Erway recaps the year food books and magazines with Laena McCarthy of Anarchy in a Jar and Wen-Jay Ying of Local Roots CSA! Tune into this episode to learn what trends were common in many cookbooks this year. Wen-Jay talks about her favorite new food magazines, and why food imagery connects the reader to the food in a way that words cannot. What books should small food businesses reference? Later, the cast talks about the new Michael Pollan book, and theorize why it strays from his normal political writing. What books top the year-end list? Find out on this week’s edition of Eat Your Words! This program has been brought to you by Whole Foods. Music by The California Honeydrops. “It should be obvious that alcohol has a weird history. It’s always been a little bit naughty.” [4:10] — Laena McCarthy on Eat Your Words “I am really into these visually-focused magazines because the images draw you further into the food.” [16:20] — Wen-Jay Ying on Eat Your Words