Ashley Tyrner, CEO of FarmboxRx, has made it her mission to make healthy eating accessible to those who are food insecure. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 54 million people are food insecure and lack consistent access to enough food to meet basic nutritional needs, while 23 million people live in food deserts, areas where people lack access to affordable and healthy food due to the absence of grocery stores, the high cost of healthy food, or transportation barriers. These issues are major contributors to obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.

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Tyrner's journey began in 2010 when her husband abandoned her while she was pregnant. She moved in with her parents in Casa Grande, Arizona, and was on food stamps. She was living in a rural food desert and had to drive 20 to 30 minutes to a grocery store. This experience inspired her to launch Farmbox Direct in 2014, a subscription box service that delivered fresh, seasonal produce to your door.

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In 2019, Tyrner pivoted to focus on the healthcare plan market, partnering with Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and private health insurance plans to offer food boxes as a benefit to members. This new revenue stream allowed the company to soar, generating $36 million in revenue last year and making the Inc 5000.

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Farmbox Rx is a first-of-its-kind nutrition program that makes healthy eating accessible to members of wellness-focused health plans. Health plans pay Farmbox Rx for the food that is shipped to their members. The company took advantage of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, which included a provision allowing Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to offer produce to their beneficiaries.

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Raising funding was Tyrner's biggest hurdle early on. She tried to raise venture capital but was not able to. She met venture capitalists who commented on her lack of a college degree. She tried to get loans and a line of credit, but it was six or seven years into the business before a bank would lend the company money.

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Now that the company is successful, VCs want in. But the company doesn’t need the money. Tyrner also turned down three acquisition offers.

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Tyrner found mentors through angel group dinners and events. Now that she is focused on health plans as Farmbox Rx’s customers, she meets mentors at trade shows. She is fortunate to count Sam Kass, an American political advisor, chef, and news personality, as a mentor. He is on Farmbox’s advisory board. John McClelland, CEO of Liberty Fruit, the fruit distributor that Farmbox uses, has also been an incredible mentor.

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Tyrner is a firm believer that eating a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats not only provides our bodies with essential nutrients but also reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. This powerful approach to health empowers people to take control of their well-being and improve their overall health.

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Sources: https://www.forbes.com/sites/geristengel/2023/10/04/farmboxs-pivot-from-d2c-to-b2b-results-in-exponential-growth/