The easiest and most delicious way to consume your daily greens and revamp your health starts at The Fruitful Frog Market & Organic Juicery on Jefferson Street in Franklin.

Owner Ann Bouie opened the store in 2024, following her passion to help others alleviate maladies and live happy, healthier lives with natural remedies, specifically, juicing.

Whether you visit her store or her booth at the Franklin Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings, trust us when we say that you’ll leave with a smile on your face and a hop in your step.

Q: What is the story behind the name of your store?

A: “Fruitful” has a few meanings to me. I want people to eat their fruits, but I also believe that we should be fruitful and multiply as good stewards of the earth. I want to multiply health food stores like this one for people to have better access to healthy items.

The frog mascot comes from my love for Kermit the Frog, and the acronym F.R.O.G., which means “fully rely on God.” We also call the store “The Frog” or “The Pond,” for short.

Q: Where did your interest in juicing originate?

A: While I was working in a health food store, customers were always asking for fresh juice, not the powdered mixes. The store didn’t sell them at the time, so I started making them with all organic ingredients, and they sold well. That’s when I started learning more about juicing, how it detoxes the body and more.

The vagus nerve connects the brainstem to all the major organs, like the stomach. I believe your stomach is your first your brain, so if you keep the gut happy, you can fix a lot of issues, from mood to brain fog to energy levels.

Q: Why is juicing beneficial to health?

A: When you eat whole fruits and vegetables, which are great for you, you’re consuming a lot of fiber. We all need fiber in our diets. But, there is a time when juicing is even better than the fiber, like when you’re trying to clean out your body or give your liver a break.

Your liver is always in digestion mode and works hard to filter out toxicity from the foods we eat, the water we drink and the environment in which we live. Everything we put into our bodies affects us, sometimes in multiple ways, because the body is more connected than we realize.

When we drink juice or do a short-term juice cleanse, we give the liver a break to stay in cleaning mode, or what I like to refer to as “getting the ick out of the body.”

People who consume juice regularly can tell a difference in how they feel and how much energy they have.

Q: Can customers request custom juices?

A: Yes. We use 100% organic and non-GMO ingredients. We have a menu of juice options, but we can take ingredients out or add them in, depending on allergies or sensitivities.

If you want to order a juice based on your own fruit and veggie choices, we can do that, but I can’t always guarantee it will taste good! As long as we have the ingredients, we can put together whatever you need.

Q: What is your favorite juice to drink?

A: The Kermie Renew-Ale is my favorite. It is made with apple, cucumber, kale, celery and lemon.

The fresh-pressed juice we serve is not like what you buy in the store. It’s a healthier version, minus the preservatives and additives that are needed to keep the juice fresh longer.

Q: What can visitors expect to find when they visit The Frog?

A: We offer fresh juices as well as a signature smoothie and smoothie bowl, which you can now add protein and other toppings to.

Our market also has locally-made products, like tallow products, room and fabric sprays, paperless paper towels and goat milk soaps. We have locally sourced honey and a vendor who makes cheese-less cream cheese spreads that are delicious. I also sell some supplements and vitamins.

Q: For visitors who have not tried fresh juice before, what kind do you recommend?

A: Since most people like things that taste a little sweeter, I created the Froggy Cider, which is like an apple cider. We serve it hot and cold all year long. Adults and kids love it.

The Froggy Cider has health benefits, but it doesn’t have the nutritional benefits you need to detox or clean your body. The next juice I recommend is The Hopper. It’s made with fresh pineapple, so it’s still sweet, but it has greens in it, too.

Most of us don’t get enough veggies in our diets, so juices with greens and veggies provide energy and even some protein.

Q: How has your own health journey influenced your work?

A: I’ve been in the natural health industry for more than a decade now, and my own health journey is partly what led me to where I am today. When a pharmaceutical drug my doctor prescribed was not the best choice for me, I did my own research on herbal supplements and found an alternative solution that worked for my body.

Q: What has been affirming since you opened the store?

A: Since I’ve opened the store, I’ve heard from people who have seen improvements in their health because they were willing to try something new and stay consistent. It makes me feel like this is why I am here, this is what I’m supposed to do.

I’m not a doctor, I can’t fix everything, nor do I claim to, but I do what I can to help make things better for others.

Q: What do you like best about the community?

A: The community has been wonderful. I think we need to be there for each other. I want The Fruitful Frog to be an open, healing place, a place for anybody who needs a helping hand.