Smoothies, Juices, and New "Holy Water" Line Available at Jugofresh in Fort Lauderdale

Calling all health-nuts in Broward County: fresh-pressed juices, superfood-rich smoothies, and raw vegan eats are now available via the Jugofresh juice bar located inside the Fort Lauderdale Whole Foods Market.

The Miami-based chain recently opened its first Broward County location last month, and since then has been serving up a variety of its signature juices and smoothies from a small store located just past the baked goods section and beside the prepared foods counter inside Whole Foods Market. The partnership is a new one between the chain grocer and Florida-founded Jugofresh, which opened its first retail location inside a Miami Whole Foods earlier this year. More are slated for Broward and Palm Beach counties stores for 2016.

"We want to make sure we support local with as many products as possible," said Whole Foods marketing team leader Jonny Rose. "But this is the first time we've brought in a local outside vendor."

Jugofresh is best known in Miami-Dade for its healthy, organic line of cold-pressed juices, with more than 20 blends that cover almond mylks, pre-bottled smoothies, and fruit and vegetable juices. Each are prepared at the Jugofresh Lemon City support center each day, and shipped directly to all eight South Florida Jugofresh locations. 

The Fort Lauderdale Jugofresh offers a scaled back version of the full menu, but still provides a wide array of drinks. Since opening several weeks ago, the most popular fresh-blended smoothie is the Kaleito, says Jugofresh head coach Ashley Franco, a juice-based smoothie that blends the company's El Green Go juice with frozen ingredients including cucumber, apple, celery, spinach, and parsley, and banana. Like all the smoothies at Jugofresh, it's garnished with coconut flakes, cacao nibs, goji berry, and hemp seeds.

Also available at the Fort Lauderdale Jugofresh is a newly-launched line of drinks called Holy Water, a total of four beverages (not juice) formulated to energize and hydrate. Like Gatorade for the "all natural" crowd, each Holy Water has an alkaline water base with additions like chopped whole aloe leaf, chlorophyll, Himalayan sea salt, or blue majik — an organic blue green algae extract.

Feeling extra healthy? Go for a smoothie and add one of a dozen or so brain- and health-boosting "treat 'yo self" items to your made-to-order drink. Choose from E3 Live (blue green algae), starflower extract (also known as borage, which has anti-inflammatory powers), raw manuka honey (a potent honey with anti-bacterial properties), or an adapotgenic tonic (unique blend of mushrooms and herbs with immune stimulating properties).

"You're guaranteed to find something here for everyone," says Franco. "From kids to adults, we've got it all."

Jugofresh is located in the Whole Foods at 2000 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. Hours are 8 a.m to 10 p.m. with a special night menu served from 8 to 10 p.m. Call 954-398-2000, or visit wholefoodsmarket.com or jugofresh.com.

Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.