10 Questions With Amy Waldman, Founder of Puree Artisan Juice Bar

As the only all organic, non-pasteurized, cold-pressed juice bar in the DC area, Puree Artisan Juice Bar doesn't believe in "organic whenever possible." They believe in concentrated phyto-nutrients without chemicals or pesticides. That's why when you visit the delicious, guilt-free juice bar, you're always guaranteed the cleanest juice (in glass bottles, of course!) and food.

Once unhealthy, founder and director of Puree Artisan Juice Bar, Amy Waldman, knew she needed to make a change. That's when she discovered juicing — the all-natural, plant-based diet that completely transformed and inspired her life. Learn more about Waldman's story and why she decided to share her new, fresh lifestyle with the community through the opening of Puree Juice Bar:

Patch: How long have you been doing business in town?

Waldman: Puree is in its 7th year in the DC area. We started in Bethesda and in late 2016 we opened a location in Fairfax in the Mosaic District. In early 2017, we opened inside the new wing of Sibley Hospital.

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in, and how did you get started?

Waldman: I came to the concept of Puree through my own experience. I was in an unhealthy place. Like so many young mothers, I took care of everyone else and everything else, but my own self care had been left behind. Exhausted, in physical pain, and overweight, I stumbled upon an inspiring documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer. I didn’t have cancer, but none the less, here was this amazing young woman given a death sentence and doing something about it! She lands on juicing and a plant-based diet as the documentary follows her on her healing journey. I was so inspired, I filled my grocery cart with all fruits and vegetables, bought a juicer, and read everything I could about the healing properties of plants. By the way, Kris Carr, the woman behind Crazy Sexy Cancer, was given three years to live— 15 years ago.

I found the lifestyle to be easy, delicious... and very time consuming! After losing 90 pounds in six months, and still tethered to my kitchen making juice every day, I decided it was time to share what I learned with the community. I set out to create a place that was delicious, social and good for you. I have uncompromising values and to this day am the only juice bar in the area that is all organic and in glass bottles for cleanliness.

Patch: If you had to sum up your business mission to a stranger in five words, what would those words be?

Waldman: Organic. Guilt-free. Plant-based. Social. Yummy.

Patch:What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your job?

Waldman: When we first opened, we were the first in the area of our kind. A lot of people had not heard about a raw, plant-based diet, cold pressed juice or juice cleanses! There was a lot of education to be completed in the beginning. It is still ongoing because so many people want to try it out, or are still learning, but that first year was very challenging!

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Waldman: We have a lot of guests that are quite ill, battling cancer, or other devastating diseases. They don’t have the energy or the time to make their own juice or nutritionally dense food. It really feels wonderful to provide a service that is so necessary and helping them heal. We do home delivery, and even make special juices for some of our guests. This also extends into our Sibley Hospital location. We are so honored to be part of the wellness initiative there and really put juicing and plant-based foods on the map as preventative medicine.

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Patch: How would you say your business or organization distinguishes itself from the others?

Waldman: We are all organic. We do not compromise. Simply put, I would not drink cold-pressed juice from conventional produce, so why should I serve it? I also have refused to move to HPP processed juice (a form of pasteurization that extends shelf life and opens up the possibility of distribution). Again, I don’t drink it, so I can’t stand behind it. We use glass bottles because glass is clean. There is literally no chemical leaching from glass, which you do get from plastic. And finally, we also have a full line of mostly raw, all plant-based food and guilt-free desserts. Raw food is very time consuming to make. Juicing is time consuming. However, we do it because we believe in the healing power of what was put on this earth in it’s simplest form.

Patch: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success?

Waldman: Stick to your mission.

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about?

Waldman: Yes! We are very excited about an amazing, healthy, vegan ice-cream. Will be out soon!

Patch: Do you have any events coming up in your community?

Waldman: We love to partner with local business, and we also support them in our small retail section. We sell products consistent with our mission, and that support a natural lifestyle. We do have a skincare event coming up. Most people don’t realize it is equally important what you put on your body, as in your body. Your skin is your largest organ and everything goes directly to the bloodstream. The cosmetic industry does not have any standards or regulations and mainstream cosmetics and skincare is full of dangerous preservatives and chemicals. We are excited to share this local, clean skincare that brings amazing results with the community.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your work and business?

Waldman: Visit our website or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

This Patch article is sponsored by Puree Artisan Juice Bar

Main Image: Ezra Gregg, Ezra Gregg Photography