Peach season belongs to South Carolina, and Kuka Juice co-owner Samantha Fulmer knows it.
The Greenville juicery is currently selling one of its favorite seasonal offerings – The Peachy Keen, a pressed juice is made up of Holt Orchards green apple, Tyger River Smart Farm basil, local peaches and pineapple.
The juice’s fruit elements are balanced by the earthy zeal of the bright basil. It is a reflection of Fulmer’s values and background. The idea for Kuka Juice was cemented after a backpacking trip she took with her best friend and now co-owner, Abigail Mitchell, just after college. The trip took them through South American with a primary focus on Colombia and Ecuador.
Enamored by the practice of incorporating fresh juice into life as is commonly done in Latin American countries, she focused on holistic health and juicing. She began at farmer’s markets, where she met some of the local produce providers like Tyger River. Today, she operates two locations at 580 Perry Ave. in West Greenville and 157 Wellborn St. in The Commons. The idea of connecting with farmers is very personal.
“My grandfather was a peach farmer in Inman, South Carolina,” she said. “Peaches run deep in my family.”
Keeping it local has been a cornerstone for the now 12-year-old business.
“One of the coolest parts of the business is just becoming friends with the farmers and being able to turn what they put so much hard work into, into a really fun product,” she said.
Bite-sized bits
- Good to Go GVL announced its expansion to a third location on social media July 31, roughly a year after the business added space to its flagship location at 209 W. Antrim Drive. The new location will be at 420 The Parkway in Greenville’s Eastside neighborhood.
- Hangar 28 is now open bringing with it chef and owner Trish Ballentine’s parmesan crusted pita melt. The restaurant at 21 Airport Road Ext. opened July 14. We can’t wait to get our hands on the melt.
