- November 29, 2024
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Man ‘came back to life’ with vegetable juices.
Wayne Grant
News Editor
The sun was shining on the white tents at the Ormond Beach Farmer’s Market on a recent Thursday at City Hall, and a breeze off the river helped alleviate the hot August temperature.
No one was enjoying the day more than Rick Perez, standing in the shade of his booth, Rick’s Verde Greens. He greeted regular customers and eagerly explained the benefits of vegetable juices and smoothies, to those unfamiliar with the nutritious drinks.
Perez appreciates the day and the chance to share his knowledge, because it wasn’t that long ago when he endured sessions of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer. He was too weak to open a tube of toothpaste. He said when he looked into a mirror he looked so emaciated he resembled Gollum from “The Lord of the Rings.”
Part of his recovery included the concentrated nutrition available through vegetable juices and, now he wants to pass on the knowledge.
“My goal is to get people to do it at home with their families,” he said. “It’s made a difference in my life. I want to bring awareness to the community.”
His own family is now devoted to the practice, creating new nutritious recipes and starting each day 'juicing.'
“I have a green juice instead of coffee,” he said.
The journey back
After being diagnosed with stage-four lymphoblastic lymphoma in 2012, Perez received four rounds of chemotherapy and the tumor fortunately disappeared.
Weak from the process, he attended the Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he learned about juicing. His story is posted at his booth.
“I came back to life,” he said.
Perez uses organic vegetables, free of pesticides and fertilizer.
At his booth, you can get a wheatgrass shot, or a choice of 12-ounce smoothies or juices, and there’s also a 16-ounce smoothie in a mason jar to go.
“I can make anything they make at a juice bar,” he said. He has a Vitamix blender, centrifugal juicer and an omega juicer.
Working at the market since April, 2014, he has a regular clientele. Some call ahead and he has it ready for them to pick. Sometimes, he will go to a workplace and make juices there for the employees, or bring them ready-made.
“Happiness in your soul’
He likes the location of the Farmer’s Market in the City Hall Courtyard.
“You have the air flow, the river,” he said. “There’s lots of positive energy; you’re surrounded by nature.”
He said he often gets people who have walked the Granada Bridge stop by for a burst of energy.
He’s currently at the market every other Thursday, but starting in October, he’ll be there every week.
One of his loyal customers is Darius Samar, of Ormond Beach, who said he rides a bike frequently and likes the nutrition available in the drinks.
“I’ve been coming religiously since last March. This is the real deal,” Samar said “This is solid nutrition.”
While getting the nutrition boost is important for health, Perez said it’s “about the mindset.”
“You have to have happiness in your soul,” he said. “You can juice all you want but you want to exude peace and happiness.”
Visit Rick’s Verde Greens on Facebook.
