Jamba Juice has announced the first results of a three-part survey about freshly squeezed juice. The survey polled a representative national sample of more than 2,200 Americans, revealing consumers' views on juice, and in particular, how people's perspectives on green juice vary.
Overall, the results suggest that despite the recent surge in popularity of green juice, there is still a great deal of confusion surrounding it. Many of those who participated in the survey believe green juice to be the most nutritious juice, but are sceptical that it could also be great tasting.
* More than one-quarter (28%) of U.S. adults say they "fear the look" of green juice
* Green represents the juice people drink least often
* 32% say green juice is the one they like the least, and;
* Only 9% of people like green juice best.
However, while many consumers "fear the look" of green juice, they tend to think it is among the healthiest juice options available and also a convenient way to incorporate fruits and vegetables into their diets.
* 32% think green juice is the healthiest juice;
* More than 1 in 5 Americans say they would prefer to drink beets (21%) and dark leafy green vegetables, such as spinach (23%) and kale (20%), in juice rather than eating them whole; and,
* While 89% of U.S. adults believe that whole fruits and vegetables are better than juice, 68% say drinking juice is more convenient.
"Just like we should be enjoying a wide range of all the colours of the rainbow in the food we eat, drinking colourful fruits and vegetables is an easy way to satisfy your daily requirements, too. Juices made from ingredients like kale, spinach, beets and chia seeds are powerhouses of good nutrition and they can actually taste good," said Kathleen Zelman, a member of the Jamba Juice Healthy Living Council. "Jamba Juice's new Whole Food Nutrition smoothies and freshly squeezed juices use unique combinations of whole foods that are delicious, easy, convenient and an excellent way to blend in more fruits and vegetables on-the-go."
In fact, according to Jamba Juice's most recent sales results, the best-selling new product on its expanded smoothie and juice menu is green. The Kale-ribbean Breeze smoothie, which contains kale blended with mangos, passion fruit-mango juice, nonfat Greek yogurt and Chia seeds, is outselling other flavours of the brand's new Whole Food Nutrition line launched in January.
The results of the study also highlighted a discrepancy between Baby Boomers' and Millennials' views on juice. Not only were Millennials more open to green juice, but also to the broader notion of drinking vegetables.
* Millennials are twice as likely as Boomers to think that vegetables taste better in juice (39% vs 18%);
* Millennials are twice as likely as Boomers to prefer green juice (13% vs 6%); and
* Millennials are twice as likely as Boomers to most often drink green juice (13% vs 6%).
* Combined, two-thirds (66%) of Americans believe fresh-squeezed juice is healthy.
"We weren't surprised when we learned that one-third of American adults, especially Millennials, say they are consuming more vegetables in juice than they did 10 years ago - but the fact is, they are still not consuming enough," said Julie S. Washington, senior vice president and chief brand officer of Jamba Juice. "According to a 2013 report published by the USDA based on MyPlate serving suggestions, men, women and children are only eating 1/3 of the fruit (33%) and 2/3 of the vegetables (63%) they need each day. We want to help eliminate Americans' fruit and vegetable deficiency and inspire healthy living. And we promise to never sacrifice taste while doing it."
