Food
Farmers
Sustainable Living
Living Planet
News
This week we had the pleasure of speaking with Shauna Martin, Founder and CEO of Daily Greens. At the age of 33 Shauna was diagnosed with breast cancer and set out to counteract the trauma her body was going through after chemotherapy and multiple surgeries. Shauna has since been clear of cancer for nine years and attributes her continued health to her healthy lifestyle – and green juice consumption. Eager to help make her friends and family more healthy, Shauna created the crowd-pleasing flavor, Vitality based off of Austin BBQ and the rest is history!
During her two years of breast cancer treatment, Shauna co-founded Pink Ribbon Cowgirls to help provide support for young survivors such as herself. A portion of Daily Greens sales are set aside to help continue Pink Ribbon Cowgirls’ mission. The mission is “Not just survive, but thrive.”
Read on to see a bit of our interview with Shauna.
1. What is your name? Shauna R. Martin (@shaunarmartin)
2. What is your occupation? Founder and CEO of Daily Greens
3. Do you have a “green” memory growing up?
Was I was very young my father taught me to appreciate the value of trees and their importance in our lives and to the survival of our planet. When I was 12 we moved to a farm in Arkansas. Anytime we had to clear out some trees we would plant new baby trees.
4. What’s your favorite meal?
A big salad made from the freshest butter lettuce and herbs, some amazing fresh homemade bread (or as close as I can get), and a freshly sliced avocado with a little sea salt.
5. Who/what inspires you to be more “green” in your life?
I am very concerned about our planet’s ability to meet the future water and food needs of all the citizens of planet Earth. That inspires me to live a plant-based life. I have been vegan for almost 10 years, and I feel amazing. I believe that not only is a plant-based diet the best possible way for me to live my life, but it is also the best thing for the planet. It is my mission in life to education others about the benefits of eating a more plant-based diet, not just because it is healthier but because it is the best thing for our planet.
6. Where on the “green scale” do you fall?
Being fully vegan, means that I have a very light environmental footprint putting me very high on the “green” scale. The single biggest contributor to carbon gases comes from the animals that we raise that are consumed by humans. I try to educate folks about the fact that our current rate of animal protein consumption is not sustainable and is also killing our planet, and encourage them to eat just a little less meat and incorporate more plants into their diets.
7. What are the most rewarding and most challenging parts of your job?
We make all of our Daily Greens juices in our manufacturing plant in Austin, Texas. Making sure that all our green juices get made and out to our 2,000 plus retailers each and every week is sometimes challenging, but at the same time oh so rewarding. Knowing that we are putting a green juice in the path of so many people so that they can enjoy the amazing health benefits of green juice each and every day, is so amazingly rewarding.
8. Where’s your “green spot” food, body care/beauty, oceans, home or neighborhood, explain:
I think my green spot is my parents farm in Arkansas. My mom cultivates a huge garden every summer. My favorite thing to do is pick greens right out of the garden for my morning green juice, to make an amazing salad for lunch, and then an amazing dinner of roasted vegetables. It is just the most amazing feeling to pick your entire days food right from your garden.
9. Where do you turn for your news?
I check twitter at least once or twice a day.
10. What is one environmental change you vow to make in the next year?
I am due for a new car, so I plan to purchase a more environmentally friendly vehicle this year, a hybrid or electric.
11. If you could trade places with one person from any time in history (past or present) for one day—who would it be and why?
Susan B. Anthony. I feel so blessed to have grown up in a country that values the intellect and abilities of women and values us as equals. I think trading places with Ms. Anthony and viewing her contributions to women’s suffrage would give me a further appreciate of how truly blessed I am.
12. You have a meeting with the leader of every country in the world. You have 30 seconds to tell them anything you want. Go!
I would ask them how they plan to provide clean water and provide sustainable food sources for their citizens for the next 100 years.
13. You have the chance to send one tweet to all the tweeps in the world. Let’s hear it in 140 characters, or less!
Life every day of your life to the fullest! Savor every moment, because you never know how many more moments you have.
14. If there was one industry/product that you could make more eco-friendly, what would it be?
The raising of animals for human consumption.
15. Where in the world would you most like to be right now?
I would love to on an island somewhere in the on the beach listening to the waves and watching the sunset.
16. What is the best book you have read recently?
Recently I really enjoyed Start with Why by Simon Sinek.
17. What makes you cringe?
I cringe when I see folks that are really unhealthy and have no idea what to eat to make themselves healthy.
18. What do you want your legacy to be?
I hope that I inspire folks to make healthy changes in their lives, starting with drinking a green juice every day and hopefully eating a more plant-based diet.
