The beginning of a new year often inspires a wave of healthy initiatives. That could mean joining a gym, hiring a nutritionist, or changing your diet. In Florida, we are fortunate to have plenty of juice bars or spots to grab a quick smoothie.
A nice blend of fruits and vegetables certainly goes hand-in-hand with your plans to get healthier. There is something refreshing about going to a local juice bar after your intense workout. Plus, who really likes keeping those giant bags of frozen fruits in your freezer? They take up tons of space. A proper juice and smoothie is flexible enough to serve as a meal replacement or a delicious booster.
Eat This, Not That recently ranked all of the juice and smoothie chains across the country. The list they compiled is very favorable for juice bar enthusiasts in Florida. "Found throughout the country, these top-rated smoothie spots serve delicious smoothie blends made from high-quality produce in a flash," Eat This, Not That said.
Pressed Juice ranked third on the list, and Jamba was second. However, the top-ranked chain is where Florida really thrives. Smoothie King ranked number one. Here is what the means for residents of the Sunshine State.
Smoothie King Has 133 Locations In Florida
That translates to 11% of their total locations, according to Scrape Hero's data compilation. Moreover, Miami (18 locations) and Fort Lauderdale (14 locations) are two of their most populated cities. In mid-2023, Top Franchise detailed how much potential there is in owning your own smoothie and juice bar franchise. In conjunction with the increase in popularity throughout the country, "they offer an easy-to-operate business, which doesn’t require any prior experience, for attractive cost and fees," Top Franchise stated. They, too, had Smoothie King as the top-ranked player in this space.
Jamba reports that they have 15 stores throughout Florida. As for Pressed Juices, they sell directly via their website (which also offers cleanse recommendations).
Florida Has One of the Best Places for Apple Cider in America
Apple cider season is here. There's just something special about having apple cider in the fall. You can have it any season, but it just tastes better in the fall. What's more, if it's chilly out, it's extra delicious to have hot apple cider with a dash of cinnamon. So, what are some of the bets spots for apple cider in America? Florida has one of them.
Before we get to today's apple cider, let's look at some of the interesting history of apple cider. According to Washington State University, the very "first recorded references to cider date back to Roman times," and, "in 55 BCE Julius Caesar found the Celtic Britons fermenting cider from native crabapples. The people of northern Spain were making sidra before the birth of Christ." That's so wild to think about.
Moreover, according to SmithsonianMag.com, "Evidence of apple trees growing along the banks to the Nile River can be found dating back to about 1300 B.C., but there's no evidence that ancient Egyptians ever used them for cider. However, considering how much the Egyptians enjoyed beer (and that they were one of the first cultures to brew it), they did have some notion of the joys of fermenting alcoholic beverages."
In other words, apple cider dates back a long, long time. In fact, apples are as old as time, really. Remember the Biblical story where Eve at the apple? There you have it. Even though apples are very ancient, the way that we eat them today is not. There are so many different ways to enjoy apples and apple cider in the fall. With that in mind, let's get into the best apple cider in the U.S. What's your favorite spot to get local apple cider? Reach out to us on social media and give us your picks.
Florida Has One of the Best Spots for Apple Cider in America
Linvilla Orchards in Pennsylvania
Linvilla Orchards is located in Media, Pennsylvania, about 30 minutes south of Philadelphia. It's a favorite local spot to get apple cider every fall. In addition to apple cider, Linvilla has their legendary Apple Cider Doughnuts. Oh, my.
Franklin Cider Mill in Michigan
If you haven't tried the honey crisp apple cider at Franklin Cider Mill, then you haven't experienced fall. This cider mill, located in Bloomfield Hills, is close to Detroit. It's a super fun spot for fall activities.
Apple Hill Orchard & Cider Mill in North Carolina
You'll find delicious, fresh cider at Apple Hill Orchard & Cider Mill in Morganton, North Carolina. They, of course, make their own cider by pressing their fresh apples and turning it into yummy cider. They even offer it hot or as a slushie.
Mercier Orchards in Georgia
Mercier Orchards are a fourth generation family and veteran-owned and operated apple orchard. They were founded back in 1943. They offer amazing cider, as well as other fresh treats, such as baked goods and fruit. They're located in Blue Ridge, Georgia.
Bedner's Farm Fresh Market in Florida
"Our mission at Bedner's Farm Fresh Market is to bring our customers a variety of locally grown produce," Bedner's Farm Fresh Market states on their social media pages. Located in Boynton Beach, Florida, this spot is known for its great cider and the annual Bedner's Fall Festival.
