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Tricycle Gardens Celebrates the Launch of New Healthy Corner Store Partners in Richmond
June 2014

For a city our size, Richmond is rated the worst food desert in the United States. Tricycle Gardens, a Richmond based nonprofit organization with a mission to grow healthy food, healthy communities and a healthy local food system, along with public and private partners throughout the area, is working to change this through their Healthy Corner Store Program.
As a participating healthy corner store, store owners commit to offering fresh, local produce
grown by Tricycle Gardens and other local farmers as well as providing in-store tasting and food skills education programming. Tricycle Gardens celebrates the store owners’ commitment to improve access to healthy foods and provide skills needed to buy, prepare and enjoy delicious, healthy and affordable meals with the company of community members, customers, store owners and program partners like the Richmond City Health District, Councilwoman Cynthia Newbille, VDH, Bon Secours, Richmond Memorial Health Foundation, CarMax Foundation and more.
At the launch of their Corner Store Program Friday, June 20th, Executive Chef of the Governor’s Mansion Chris Blain prepared and demoed a Veggie and Black Bean Burrito Bowl in Bon Secours Virginia Health System’s Class-A-Roll with the help of youth from the Family Resource Center’s Youth Health Equity Leadership Institute and the Neighborhood Resource Center’s Food Landscape program. The recipe used only ingredients found in the corner stores and highlighted how to use seasonal produce to prepare affordable, healthy meals.
As a free and public event families and individuals came out to learn about eating healthy on a budget, were introduced to the expanded healthy food choices offered at the corner stores, and celebrated the movement toward a healthier East End. Kids' activities emphasizing physical activity and healthy food choices engaged the youth and community leaders worked to create an open line of communication with parents.
Tricycle Gardens has several upcoming community-based food skills education programs including cooking demonstrations at the Robinson Theater on July 2nd, July 16th and July 30th from 6 – 7 PM and an in-store tasting at Fine Foods on July 9th from 3 – 4 PM.
For more information, contact Claire Sadeghzadeh at 804-231-7767 or Claire@tricyclegardens.org.
As a participating healthy corner store, store owners commit to offering fresh, local produce
grown by Tricycle Gardens and other local farmers as well as providing in-store tasting and food skills education programming. Tricycle Gardens celebrates the store owners’ commitment to improve access to healthy foods and provide skills needed to buy, prepare and enjoy delicious, healthy and affordable meals with the company of community members, customers, store owners and program partners like the Richmond City Health District, Councilwoman Cynthia Newbille, VDH, Bon Secours, Richmond Memorial Health Foundation, CarMax Foundation and more.
At the launch of their Corner Store Program Friday, June 20th, Executive Chef of the Governor’s Mansion Chris Blain prepared and demoed a Veggie and Black Bean Burrito Bowl in Bon Secours Virginia Health System’s Class-A-Roll with the help of youth from the Family Resource Center’s Youth Health Equity Leadership Institute and the Neighborhood Resource Center’s Food Landscape program. The recipe used only ingredients found in the corner stores and highlighted how to use seasonal produce to prepare affordable, healthy meals.
As a free and public event families and individuals came out to learn about eating healthy on a budget, were introduced to the expanded healthy food choices offered at the corner stores, and celebrated the movement toward a healthier East End. Kids' activities emphasizing physical activity and healthy food choices engaged the youth and community leaders worked to create an open line of communication with parents.
Tricycle Gardens has several upcoming community-based food skills education programs including cooking demonstrations at the Robinson Theater on July 2nd, July 16th and July 30th from 6 – 7 PM and an in-store tasting at Fine Foods on July 9th from 3 – 4 PM.
For more information, contact Claire Sadeghzadeh at 804-231-7767 or Claire@tricyclegardens.org.