January 20, 2025 • 11 mins
What if you could revolutionize your health journey with inspiration from a personal mission turned community-focused business? We had the incredible opportunity to have Fatima Tekkko, the trailblazing founder of Fresh Roots Incorporated, share her story on the Good Neighbor Podcast. Fatima's endeavors began with a heartfelt mission to support her family through health crises and have blossomed into a thriving woman-owned, black-owned juicery and vegan café. Rooted initially in Midtown Detroit and now flourishing in Rochester Hills, Fresh Roots isn't just about juices and vegan food; it's about empowering the community with wellness education and services to preemptively tackle health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Listeners will be captivated by Fatima’s insights as she debunks myths surrounding the juicing industry and emphasizes Fresh Roots' commitment to integrity and authenticity. She candidly addresses the challenges of maintaining pure, toxin-free products and her passion for making health both accessible and enjoyable. From engaging in yoga and fit clubs to offering support through community engagement, Fatima and her team are dedicated to nurturing a supportive environment for everyone on their wellness journey. This episode is a must-listen for anyone eager to prioritize their health with genuine, community-oriented inspiration.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Lisa Swiftney.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Hi everyone and welcome to episode number 137 of
the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Today we have with us FatimaTico, with Fresh Roots
Incorporated, and we're going tolearn all about her new
endeavor in Rochester andRochester Hills.
So thank you so much for beinga guest today, fatima.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Thank you for having me, lisa.
I'm really excited to get toknow the neighborhood in
Rochester and Rochester Hills.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
This is great.
Why don't we first tell us alittle bit about your business?
Great.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Why don't we first tell us a little bit about your
business.
What do you do so?
Fresh Roots is a woman-owned,black-owned, minority-owned
juicery and a vegan cafe thathas been around just a little
bit over six years.
So our original first locationis in Midtown Detroit, on Wayne
State University's campus, andwe have founded a home here in
(01:06):
Rochester Hills, just across thestreet from Rochester High, a
few lights down from OaklandUniversity, and not only do we
provide juices and wellnessshots and amazing vegan foods,
but we also provide health andwellness services and education
on health and wellness,designated to each and every one
of our customers.
So detoxes and cleanses, youknow, just some life-saving tips
(01:27):
.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
So tell our listeners about your journey.
How did you get into this?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Wow.
So it is a very long story, butI'll keep it very short.
I actually have a youngerbrother who is in need of a
second heart transplant, kidneytransplant and liver transplant.
At the time, I took on the roleof being his caretaker just a
little bit about five years ago.
While I was getting into this,however, I've had other family
(01:55):
members, such as my grandparentsor my own child, that had some
health conditions that weregoing on, and it was a place for
me to learn about health andwellness and how we should
tackle our health and wellnessbefore it gets to us.
So a lot of people will come toFresh Roots and say you know, we
were newly diagnosed withdiabetes or high blood pressure
(02:18):
or things like that.
So we try to get into thecommunities and educate before
those things become a problem.
Our motto is deeply rooted, andit's more than being deeply
rooted in the product that weprovide, but it's also being
deeply rooted in the communityand highlighting some things
that you know we can offer interms of, like I said prior to
(02:42):
this interview in ourconversation.
We do things outside, on thefield.
We get into meditations andPilates and yoga and fit clubs,
and it really excites peopleabout getting onto their journey
when they know that they have awhole team support system here
for them, and that's what weoffer at Fresh Roots.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
That is amazing and I want to try one of those.
So I will have to come by soon.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah, I'd love to have you.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Can you tell us about any myths or misconceptions
that you hear about in yourindustry?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Oh, lisa, this is a really good question and it's
ironic because there's theapproach where, in terms of like
our labeling and things likethat, that we have to have
presentation wise labels becausefresh produce is raw.
When it's pressed, we'll saythings like it can contain
(03:49):
bacteria, things like that, andit tends to scare people away
rather than bring them closer.
So we have to explain to themthat, just like any other food
raw food, dry food all food cancontain those things, and you
know we have a very good processon making sure we don't have to
deal with those things.
The other thing is just theaccessibility to it, right?
(04:12):
So a lot of people.
Well, I could just juice at home, and I am huge on sure.
I'll provide you the resources,I will help you with some
recipes and two weeks later theycome back and visit us, because
it's not that easy to do thisat home.
And then again there's thehighlight of other businesses
that have really came to theforefront, which I call the
(04:34):
quote unquote fast food ofhealth and wellness, where they
sell the idea of health andwellness, but then you look up
and find that there's so manypowders and sugars and
sweeteners and 1200 grams ofeverything you're not supposed
to have inside of what you'redrinking and while it might
taste fun and flavorful, we havefound a way to do fun and
(04:55):
flavorful without all thosetoxins.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
That is amazing.
I know I interviewed a coupleweeks ago a gentleman who wrote
a book called there's a Food forthat all about how you can stay
healthy and heal yourselfthrough eating the right foods.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Yeah, so I have a book by Jill Hamilton and it is
I call it my juicing Biblebecause it has all the different
kinds of different mastercleanses and remedies for
everything you could think ofunder the sun and it has helped
me with my personal journey.
It has helped a lot of mycustomers and, while I don't
(05:36):
know the author, have anyaffiliation with the author, I
speak on her very highly becausea lot of the items that she has
listed in there have worked.
You know, one thing that hasbeen really big was the talk of
sea moss, and we carry sea moss.
We actually have an amazing,amazing berry juice that has sea
(05:56):
moss in it and a lot of peopledon't understand that, just like
any other fruit or vegetable orany type of produce, things
like sea moss, which it's a typeof seaweed, it's a holistic
type of seaweed that is used,can be pool grown, home grown,
farm grown grown, and a lot ofpeople are just into like the
(06:19):
trend of having it and don'tunderstand how to get like the
quote-unquote organic version ofit that's very interesting.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Well, let's switch it up a little bit here.
When you're not working on yourbusiness or educating, what do
you like to do for fun?
Speaker 3 (06:38):
I have always been an outdoorsy girl.
I grew up between two brothersand you know, I just have always
been into sports and all ofthat kind of stuff.
So outside of this business Ialso own a few others.
One of them was is a resourcingagency and we I've done sports
(06:59):
and entertainment for over 15years, which also is a part of
my journey leading up to here.
So I sincerely love going tosporting events, let alone like
community events, and then theobvious being with my, my
brother and my boys and reallyjust enjoying family and
embracing family.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
That's great, and I'm sure you're.
This past weekend was full funwith the Lions and everything.
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yeah, yeah.
And with our other locationbeing so close to the arena,
down there we get an abundanceof some of those athletes which
has also transferred over here,because a few of them actually
live out this way, so it'scloser to them.
But it allows us to attract thefangowers on their way to the
(07:49):
games, because they don't havethese items available in the
arena, so they're either able toeat on their way to the game or
on their way home from the game.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
That's awesome.
Can you describe one hardshipor life challenge that you rose
above and can now say because ofthat challenge that you're
better for it and or stronger?
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Oh, is this on a personal level or a business
level?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Whichever you'd like.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Okay, so I guess I can kind of bring the two
together.
Being that I got into thisbusiness because of family
members having issues withhealth, one of my biggest things
that I had to learn was havingpatience and putting faith in
God's hands and just lettingthings be.
When we first opened up ourfirst location, it was in the
(08:42):
cusp of the pandemic and all Icould think about is what are we
going to do?
We couldn't open doors, wecouldn't have customers in, we
couldn't do any of that, and itwas also right at the time that
my grandmother was gettingreally ill and a lot of these
people recipes for things thatshe has suggested, and so I kind
(09:03):
of was becoming impatient, likeI really want to get things
going, I want to show her that Ican do it.
But I learned that you know,sometimes, when you just put
that faith in God and just sitback and let things happen, they
all come into fruition.
Hence being deeply rooted in atree growing from roots.
You have to water it, you haveto give it enough sunshine, you
(09:25):
have to give it enough love, andthen it's going to be exactly
what you want it to be.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
That is an amazing story.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
What is one thing you wish our listeners knew about
your business?
Speaker 3 (09:40):
That it is probably going to be one of the most fun
experiences that you have, letalone educational Fresh Roots.
At this location in Rochester,rochester Hills, we have a
phenomenal bar area where youcan sit and watch sporting
events or TV or whatever we havegoing on, and then we also have
a creative station that we'rebuilding at this location.
(10:01):
We also do have one at ourDetroit location where
individuals who are intodifferent types of fine arts or
social media influencers cancome in.
They can film their TikToks,their YouTube videos, podcasts.
So we're working on gettingthat finalized here and really
just creating a space for thecollege students where they can
(10:21):
come study, hang out.
We'll be finalizing some booksfor our little library and some
games, some game boards that youcan come and have fun.
So the diversity in age rangeis amazing, so everybody is
going to have a good time here.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Sounds like it, so our listeners want to learn more
, so tell us where exactlyyou're located and how they can
stop by and visit you.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
All right.
So we are located on Walton1322 Walton Boulevard, right
across the street from RochesterHigh School.
The cross streets are Waltonand Livernois.
If you're familiar with therestaurant Luckies, we are in
the same plaza as them.
You can find us on all socialmedia, at Fresh Roots, with a Z,
r-o-o-t-z, and it will beeither Detroit or D-E-T Great.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Well, Fatima, thank you so much for being a guest
today on our Good Neighborpodcast.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Thank you for having me, Lisa.
It's such a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast,
rochester.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnprochestercom.
That's gnprochestercom, or call248-988-9640.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Lisa Swiftney.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Hi everyone and welcome to episode number 137 of
the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Today we have with us FatimaTico, with Fresh Roots
Incorporated, and we're going tolearn all about her new
endeavor in Rochester andRochester Hills.
So thank you so much for beinga guest today, fatima.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Thank you for having me, lisa.
I'm really excited to get toknow the neighborhood in
Rochester and Rochester Hills.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
This is great.
Why don't we first tell us alittle bit about your business?
Great.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Why don't we first tell us a little bit about your
business.
What do you do so?
Fresh Roots is a woman-owned,black-owned, minority-owned
juicery and a vegan cafe thathas been around just a little
bit over six years.
So our original first locationis in Midtown Detroit, on Wayne
State University's campus, andwe have founded a home here in
(01:06):
Rochester Hills, just across thestreet from Rochester High, a
few lights down from OaklandUniversity, and not only do we
provide juices and wellnessshots and amazing vegan foods,
but we also provide health andwellness services and education
on health and wellness,designated to each and every one
of our customers.
So detoxes and cleanses, youknow, just some life-saving tips
(01:27):
.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
So tell our listeners about your journey.
How did you get into this?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Wow.
So it is a very long story, butI'll keep it very short.
I actually have a youngerbrother who is in need of a
second heart transplant, kidneytransplant and liver transplant.
At the time, I took on the roleof being his caretaker just a
little bit about five years ago.
While I was getting into this,however, I've had other family
(01:55):
members, such as my grandparentsor my own child, that had some
health conditions that weregoing on, and it was a place for
me to learn about health andwellness and how we should
tackle our health and wellnessbefore it gets to us.
So a lot of people will come toFresh Roots and say you know, we
were newly diagnosed withdiabetes or high blood pressure
(02:18):
or things like that.
So we try to get into thecommunities and educate before
those things become a problem.
Our motto is deeply rooted, andit's more than being deeply
rooted in the product that weprovide, but it's also being
deeply rooted in the communityand highlighting some things
that you know we can offer interms of, like I said prior to
(02:42):
this interview in ourconversation.
We do things outside, on thefield.
We get into meditations andPilates and yoga and fit clubs,
and it really excites peopleabout getting onto their journey
when they know that they have awhole team support system here
for them, and that's what weoffer at Fresh Roots.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
That is amazing and I want to try one of those.
So I will have to come by soon.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah, I'd love to have you.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Can you tell us about any myths or misconceptions
that you hear about in yourindustry?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Oh, lisa, this is a really good question and it's
ironic because there's theapproach where, in terms of like
our labeling and things likethat, that we have to have
presentation wise labels becausefresh produce is raw.
When it's pressed, we'll saythings like it can contain
(03:49):
bacteria, things like that, andit tends to scare people away
rather than bring them closer.
So we have to explain to themthat, just like any other food
raw food, dry food all food cancontain those things, and you
know we have a very good processon making sure we don't have to
deal with those things.
The other thing is just theaccessibility to it, right?
(04:12):
So a lot of people.
Well, I could just juice at home, and I am huge on sure.
I'll provide you the resources,I will help you with some
recipes and two weeks later theycome back and visit us, because
it's not that easy to do thisat home.
And then again there's thehighlight of other businesses
that have really came to theforefront, which I call the
(04:34):
quote unquote fast food ofhealth and wellness, where they
sell the idea of health andwellness, but then you look up
and find that there's so manypowders and sugars and
sweeteners and 1200 grams ofeverything you're not supposed
to have inside of what you'redrinking and while it might
taste fun and flavorful, we havefound a way to do fun and
(04:55):
flavorful without all thosetoxins.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
That is amazing.
I know I interviewed a coupleweeks ago a gentleman who wrote
a book called there's a Food forthat all about how you can stay
healthy and heal yourselfthrough eating the right foods.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Yeah, so I have a book by Jill Hamilton and it is
I call it my juicing Biblebecause it has all the different
kinds of different mastercleanses and remedies for
everything you could think ofunder the sun and it has helped
me with my personal journey.
It has helped a lot of mycustomers and, while I don't
(05:36):
know the author, have anyaffiliation with the author, I
speak on her very highly becausea lot of the items that she has
listed in there have worked.
You know, one thing that hasbeen really big was the talk of
sea moss, and we carry sea moss.
We actually have an amazing,amazing berry juice that has sea
(05:56):
moss in it and a lot of peopledon't understand that, just like
any other fruit or vegetable orany type of produce, things
like sea moss, which it's a typeof seaweed, it's a holistic
type of seaweed that is used,can be pool grown, home grown,
farm grown grown, and a lot ofpeople are just into like the
(06:19):
trend of having it and don'tunderstand how to get like the
quote-unquote organic version ofit that's very interesting.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Well, let's switch it up a little bit here.
When you're not working on yourbusiness or educating, what do
you like to do for fun?
Speaker 3 (06:38):
I have always been an outdoorsy girl.
I grew up between two brothersand you know, I just have always
been into sports and all ofthat kind of stuff.
So outside of this business Ialso own a few others.
One of them was is a resourcingagency and we I've done sports
(06:59):
and entertainment for over 15years, which also is a part of
my journey leading up to here.
So I sincerely love going tosporting events, let alone like
community events, and then theobvious being with my, my
brother and my boys and reallyjust enjoying family and
embracing family.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
That's great, and I'm sure you're.
This past weekend was full funwith the Lions and everything.
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yeah, yeah.
And with our other locationbeing so close to the arena,
down there we get an abundanceof some of those athletes which
has also transferred over here,because a few of them actually
live out this way, so it'scloser to them.
But it allows us to attract thefangowers on their way to the
(07:49):
games, because they don't havethese items available in the
arena, so they're either able toeat on their way to the game or
on their way home from the game.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
That's awesome.
Can you describe one hardshipor life challenge that you rose
above and can now say because ofthat challenge that you're
better for it and or stronger?
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Oh, is this on a personal level or a business
level?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Whichever you'd like.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Okay, so I guess I can kind of bring the two
together.
Being that I got into thisbusiness because of family
members having issues withhealth, one of my biggest things
that I had to learn was havingpatience and putting faith in
God's hands and just lettingthings be.
When we first opened up ourfirst location, it was in the
(08:42):
cusp of the pandemic and all Icould think about is what are we
going to do?
We couldn't open doors, wecouldn't have customers in, we
couldn't do any of that, and itwas also right at the time that
my grandmother was gettingreally ill and a lot of these
people recipes for things thatshe has suggested, and so I kind
(09:03):
of was becoming impatient, likeI really want to get things
going, I want to show her that Ican do it.
But I learned that you know,sometimes, when you just put
that faith in God and just sitback and let things happen, they
all come into fruition.
Hence being deeply rooted in atree growing from roots.
You have to water it, you haveto give it enough sunshine, you
(09:25):
have to give it enough love, andthen it's going to be exactly
what you want it to be.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
That is an amazing story.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
What is one thing you wish our listeners knew about
your business?
Speaker 3 (09:40):
That it is probably going to be one of the most fun
experiences that you have, letalone educational Fresh Roots.
At this location in Rochester,rochester Hills, we have a
phenomenal bar area where youcan sit and watch sporting
events or TV or whatever we havegoing on, and then we also have
a creative station that we'rebuilding at this location.
(10:01):
We also do have one at ourDetroit location where
individuals who are intodifferent types of fine arts or
social media influencers cancome in.
They can film their TikToks,their YouTube videos, podcasts.
So we're working on gettingthat finalized here and really
just creating a space for thecollege students where they can
(10:21):
come study, hang out.
We'll be finalizing some booksfor our little library and some
games, some game boards that youcan come and have fun.
So the diversity in age rangeis amazing, so everybody is
going to have a good time here.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Sounds like it, so our listeners want to learn more
, so tell us where exactlyyou're located and how they can
stop by and visit you.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
All right.
So we are located on Walton1322 Walton Boulevard, right
across the street from RochesterHigh School.
The cross streets are Waltonand Livernois.
If you're familiar with therestaurant Luckies, we are in
the same plaza as them.
You can find us on all socialmedia, at Fresh Roots, with a Z,
r-o-o-t-z, and it will beeither Detroit or D-E-T Great.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Well, Fatima, thank you so much for being a guest
today on our Good Neighborpodcast.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Thank you for having me, Lisa.
It's such a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast,
rochester.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnprochestercom.
That's gnprochestercom, or call248-988-9640.
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