Organic Acai blended with organic coconut oil and water, layered with granola & pineapple then topped with strawberry, blueberry, banana, coconut flakes, local honey, organic hemp & chia seeds.
Sounds pretty good right?
Those ingredients can be found in the Pineapple Express Acai Bowl at Ocean City’s Juice Shack on 16th Street in Ocean City, Md.
Paul and Lisa Carlotta opened up the shop just a short time after their farm, Berlin Organics, opened on 611 in Berlin, Md., which is currently in its fourth year. The goal at the Juice Shack is to do everything they do at Berlin Organics and then some.
“Berlin Organics basically started with the concept of bringing produce to the community, which parlayed to the Juice Shack with all of our productions,” Lisa said.
The Juice Shack uses produce from Berlin Organics as well as local goods from nearby retailers — the duo doesn’t discriminate.
“If the Bennett’s have extra peaches, we’ll get their peaches!” Lisa said. “People really look for it, it’s a very big movement to find locally grown products, to know your farmer.”
The Juice Shack offers fresh produce ranging from tomatoes, blueberries, eggs, and more. The shack also sells Kombucha, fresh juices, smoothies and acai bowls, all made to order. The concept of the business is for grab and go healthy snacks.
If you have a smoothie obsession, the Juice Shack is the place for you (Photo: Juice Shack by Berlin Organics)
The small Ocean City shop attracts customers from all over, with a shared way of life.
“We get both tourists and locals, a good mix of both, ” Lisa said. “The locals are very worldly and a lot of them are travelers. The younger generations are very hip and into the bowls.”
The growing demand for healthy food in the resort town has brought a positive impact to businesses like the Juice Shack. Lisa says social media has been a huge factor in the push.
“Social media has helped a lot, a lot of times people coming in read about it online,” Lisa said.
The healthy alternative spot shares a building with OC Wasabi Express, a destination for sushi, Vietnamese bánh mi sandwiches and summer rolls, Korean kimchi and more, in less time.
Lisa said the relationship works beautifully. Guests are able to grab their sushi, stop in for a juice and head to the beach. Lisa said the location compliments her brand because people are seeking these handcrafted food items.
The Super Bowl (Photo: Juice Shack by Berlin Organics).
“A lot of small, chef-owned, locally-owned restaurants are popping up in the area,” Lisa said. “It’s a positive expansion, a great idea for the area, to bring a smaller touch.”
In a resort like Ocean City, there are fast food restaurants on every corner. Lisa considers her shop an oasis for the health-conscious guests and residents in town.
To learn more guest favorites at the Juice Shack, go to www.facebook.com/juiceshackbyberlinorganics/?fref=ts.
Have a story idea? Email Lauren Holloway at lholloway@wboc.com.
