Since 2011, the health-conscious denizens of Vancouver have gathered at a bright pink truck parked at the corner of Abbot and Water in Gastown to get their daily fix of fruit and vegetables in liquid form. At The Juice Truck, cold-pressed juices and smoothies are made to order, and the philosophy is: local first, organic second.
“We buy as much as we can from local distributors and food suppliers, and our menu changes seasonally, especially the food,” explains co-founder Ryan Slater. When Ryan and co-founder Zach Berman first took to the streets in The Juice Truck in 2011, they became the city's first purveyor of cold-pressed juice.
The company has since grown exponentially and now offers wholesale juices in grocery stores across the city, as well as a stand-alone juice bar and café in Mount Pleasant. Located on West 5th Avenue, the airy, light-filled space is decked in brightly-coloured artwork, potted plants and a communal table for guests to sit at while enjoying a nutrient-dense green smoothie.
The storefront is also home to a multi-purpose event space, and houses a large production facility where cold-pressed juices, ready-to-go cleanse packages, smoothies, fresh bowls and healthy snacks are prepared.