An interview with Jemina Boyd of Chubby Bunny Baby Food

The staff of theITbaby are currently residing in Nashville, and although the intended recipient of the baby food is not yet able to eat it, we did a quick email interview with Jemina Boyd of Chubby Bunny Baby food, which will be what Baby M gets her start on fairly soon.

Tell us about Chubby Bunny, what do you do?

We believe in fresh, organic baby food made with local ingredients whenever possible.

We cook, puree, and freeze fresh baby food into individual 1 oz portions that store in your freezer. Just take out what you need for the day and go! Find us at the West End Farmers Market at Vine Street or the Franklin Farmers Market on Saturday mornings + we deliver!

Each of our flavors come in frozen 1 oz. portions, 10 oz. a bag.

How did you decide on the name Chubby Bunny?

Our family has always called babies that we love “chubby bunnies”, so I knew we had to name the company in honor of all our friends and family we’ve seen grow up throughout the years!

What radius/areas do you serve?

Right now we’re serving the Nashville and outlying areas. We do deliveries from Hendersonville to Franklin, and anywhere in between.

What’s special about Chubby Bunny foods?

We provide a fresh food option for busy moms and dads who would like to make their own baby food, but don’t have the time or inclination to do so. We’re a fresh and unique alternative to the more bland flavors that you normally find on store shelves.

Any testimonials from parents?
(see attached pics)

How long is the shelf life of your food on average?

Our bags have a shelf life of 2 months in the freezer.

So what did you do before Chubby Bunny?

I’ve done project coordinating in various fields like clinical research (with IT Mama!) and software implementation.

What made you decide to start Chubby Bunny?

Cooking has always been a creative outlet for me, and I love being an entrepreneur. Chubby Bunny allows me to do both!

Any plans for dehydrated / shippable versions for those not in the Nashville area?

We do have plans to ship on dry ice eventually, when demand is such that it’s cost-effective to do so.

Any stats on nutritional yield vs packaged baby foods?

Since our baby food isn’t watered down like typical packaged baby foods, we’re providing a higher caloric and nutritional intake per oz for your baby. Parents have reported that their babies end up getting full after eating fewer ounces of our baby food versus the store brands.

Do you have competition?

We are the only fresh baby food manufacturer in the state of Tennessee. We happen to be the first, as well. I learned that when dealing with the TN Dept of Agriculture and the FDA.

How can people contact you with questions?

I love questions! Email me at [email protected]

Any horrible secrets of Big Baby Food you’ve learned?

Oh. Too many to mention. The watered-down formula, as well as the addition of white grape juice concentrate, aka sugar, to blends is rampant. Parents should really read the ingredients before buying. There are also several lawsuits pending for the presence of lead found in certain large brands’ food, and most commercial baby food also test positive for a variety of pesticides.

Are you licensed/insured/bonded/inspected?

Yes. We are fully licensed by the State of Tennessee, inspected by the TN Dept of Ag, and have general and product liability insurance. All of this is mandatory to sell in the state of Tennessee, especially at farmers markets. It was a long process, but we’re so grateful that our standards and processes are up to code. Parents can rest assured that vendors at farmers markets are held to very high standards, as well.

How can people locate where you’re at this week?

Our website, www.chubbybunnyfoods.com, has our locations listed (West End Farmers Market and Franklin Farmers Market every Saturday). However, for up to date info, like us on Facebook!