Georgia Magazine - July 2024 - 32

Squeeze the day
Fresh-juice company Arden's Garden celebrates 30 fruitful years
By Tara Duncan
A
rden's Garden, a thriving fresh-juice and
wellness brand based in Atlanta, owes its
roots to visionary health enthusiast Arden
Zinn. Zinn started juicing-extracting juice from
vegetables and fruits-in the 1960s after learning
about the benefits from Norman Walker, the father of
vegetable juicing.
As part of her devoted health regimen, Zinn
prepared nutritious concoctions for her children
every day. Over time, she developed tastier
beverages by experimenting with different blends of
ingredients. Her passion for vegetable and fruit
juicing (occasionally mixed with herbs and grasses)
laid the foundation for Arden's Garden.
In 1994, Zinn's home-based, start-up business
moved into the back of a neighborhood health food
store, and by 1995, she opened her first location in
Atlanta. With the help of her son, Ed, and daughter,
Leslie, Zinn's business got off the ground.
" [Mom] was always the visionary and very
involved in creating products and purpose. She was
always the face, passion and mission of the brand, "
Leslie Zinn says. " She just wanted to spread health
and wellness. Her currency in life was never money.
It was wellness. "
In 1999, Leslie Zinn took over as CEO. Under
her leadership, the company grew exponentially,
reinvesting every bit of profit back into the business.
From its humble beginnings, Arden's Garden
has grown into a multifaceted business, manufacturing
and distributing its products through retail
and wholesale outlets. Today, it boasts 17 locations
around Georgia, with the next set to open on
Atlanta's Old National Highway, an area identified
as a food desert.
" We're making it our mission to offer fresh
food, juices and smoothies in underserved areas, "
Zinn says.
The company's Southeast distributions reach
Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Alabama and Tennessee, and Arden's Garden
products are carried in stores including Publix,
Kroger, Whole Foods, Sprouts and Sevananda. The
company also has expanded distribution to the
32 Georgia Magazine July 2024
Arden's Garden CEO
Leslie Zinn, far right,
partners with local
urban farmers, such
as Oyun Botanical
Gardens founder
Yennenga Adanya,
to source organic
produce for the
company's offerings.
Northeast,
reaching about
200 locations in
New York, New
Jersey and
Pennsylvania.
Arden's Garden now offers plant-based smoothies, soups, salads,
snacks and cookies, but cold-pressed juice remains at the heart of the
business.
" Juicing is a way to get high-density nutrition [that's easily absorbed
by the body], " Zinn says. " In every bottle of juice, there's over 2 pounds
of produce. "
The company's most popular juice is Pineapple Ginger, a recipe
created by Arden Zinn herself. Among the wellness shots, the Firecracker-
a blend of ginger, lemon, pineapple and cayenne pepper-is a customer
favorite for its flavor and immunity-boosting properties.
Leslie Zinn's favorite product is the nutrient-dense Cruciferous
Cabbage smoothie that gets just enough sweetness from berries and
bananas. Today, she embraces the same health-conscious values her mom
promoted years ago, driven by the profound impact of healthy eating on
her energy level and overall well-being.
As often as possible, Arden's Garden partners with local urban farms,
such as Oyun Botanical Gardens in East Point, to source its organic produce
for its seasonal foods. The relationship between Arden's Garden and
the East Point community has been mutually beneficial. The company has
provided access to fresh food in an area with limited options, while the
community has supported and grown with the company.
Zinn is keen to continue this mission in other underserved communities,
hoping to open more stores outside of Atlanta in the next year.
" If you make fresh food available, they will come, " Zinn says.
Tara Duncan is an Atlanta-based freelance writer.
For more information about Arden's Garden, visit ardensgarden.com.
COURTESY ARDEN'S GARDEN
http://www.ardensgarden.com
Georgia Magazine - July 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - July 2024
