About Us

Our Story

When my daughter was born, I knew that nutrition would play a critical role in her development. Once she was old enough to begin eating solids, I tried looking for nutrient dense, ready-made (I’m a working mom) baby food. I couldn’t find what I was looking for.

Where were the foods that represented my culture—the ones my grandmother made when I was a child? I wanted food with bold flavors and the diverse list of global ingredients that my family and families of the African Diaspora have eaten for centuries.

So I took things into my own hands. I began making food from scratch. I used ingredients like collards, chayote, papaya and tamarind. Through making, experimenting, and testing--I finally started to see our heritage on her plate. From those recipes, The Little Cocoa Bean Co. was born.

I began working in the community teaching other families how to make homemade baby food using ingredients that were culturally relevant and nutrient rich. I explained how absolutely vital focusing on nutrition during a baby’s first 1,000 days of life is. And, I listened. I listened to stories from other parents about how much they were struggling to afford baby care basics. How federal aid covers the cost of food but none of the other essentials needed to care for young children.

I wanted to help.

At The Little Cocoa Bean Co., our goal is to provide families with access to vital information, supplies, and services during their child’s first 1,000 days of life. We teach all parents how to provide wholesome food that’s packed with nutrients needed to develop healthy bodies and brains because regular consumption of healthy and diverse foods during the first few years of life is a social determinant of health.

Come along with us as we endeavor to raise healthy babies, build strong communities, and pay homage to our ancestral cuisine.

— Tracy