Health fads have swung in and out of public consciousness. From avocados to chia seeds, superfoods and food science has taken over popular culture, and Long Island is no exception. Led by Ron Montgomery, or Six, The 6 Juice is an organically sourced juice company based out of Suffolk County providing healthy alternatives to processed foods.
Montgomery’s mother was the inspiration behind why he decided to start his juice company.
“[My mother] was battling stage four cancer,” said Six. “She lost a lot of nutrients in her body – and I heard about this thing called juicing, so I got a juicer.”
Six’s wife was also excited about juicing at home. However, the initial trials weren’t as palatable as his juices today. In the beginning stages, it was his friend Jackie who kept him motivated by one phrase: it could be better.
After continuing to make juices, he had run into some financial hurdles, but Six’s business intuition guided him forward. He found alternative, quality products. People often ask him where he studied, but his savviness is all the result of self-training.
“I always get the question, ‘Where’d you go to college,'” said Six. “I always say: I went to Google university. They usually ask, ‘Where’s that, California?’ And I’m like – nah my kitchen table bro. I have people who give me advice who are professionals, but still, to this day, I’ll figure it out [myself].”
His first big sale was at a friend’s bodybuilding event, where he sold out of his most popular flavor: Power Six.
“My friend had been bodybuilding, and he said I could set up and sell juices,” said Six. “I set up at the gym, and he asked me ‘Can you make me one?’ I said yeah! I put in some kale, spinach and lemon and juiced it – they loved it. That one completely sold out.”
Six stays true to his humble beginnings, he asserts that his business was built from his own hard work.
“A thousand dollars – a thousand hours. I built my business from the ground up,” asserted Six “I don’t have a sexy story to tell people. I’m from the mud. I sold my yeezys, my sneakers – I sold my motorcycle. I took money on credit cards and I took out loans. I didn’t grow up with a trust fund. It was blood sweat and tears.”
Six attributes a newfound health consciousness among younger generations to the popularity of his juices. His vision for younger generations is one where healthy alternatives flush out traditional, sugary sodas.
“I’ve met with Pepsi Cola and Coke,” said Six. “Young people – our generation – doesn’t drink soda like that anymore. Who really drinks soda? We may drink seltzer water, but we drink pressed juices. We eat parfaits, we’re vegans or vegetarians. I feel better, I have more energy. I’m African American, so high blood pressure and all that – I don’t have any of that. It will literally make you healthy.”
“All of my ingredients are USDA organic,” said Six. “We source [our ingredients] from farms across the United States – it’s straight from farms.”
Six abides by a minimal-waste policy in his stores. He use to make compost out of discarded ingredients – which he would like to start up again– but he remains dedicated to completely reusable juice bottles.
“We also source bottles from the United States,” said Six. “They are 100% recyclable bottles. You can clean out the bottles and reuse them. We’re trying to be 100% recyclable with no waste.”
According to Six, juicing’s effect on the body is positive and has a wide range of benefits.
“It’s good for your stomach and digestive system, your hair, your nails,” said Six. “It’s also good for weight loss and high blood pressure, heart function, brain function. It’s also good for a post-workout and pre-workout. It’ll give you enough energy for the work out, and enough to replace the nutrients you lost. People think it’s [juice] comes from the mud, that it’s thankless, it’s ugly, but it’s beneficial all around.”
Stay tuned for Six’s new vegan and vegetarian juice bar and restaurant, which he should be launching next week.
