After making a brick-and-mortar debut in Fairway last year, a local juicery and eatery has expanded in Johnson County.
Earlier this month, Zen Donkey Farms opened its newest cafe — this one on the AdventHealth Shawnee Mission campus in Merriam.
Zen Donkey opened at 9100 W. 74th St.
- Zen Donkey occupies a space on the first floor of the AdventHealth Cancer Institute in Merriam.
- The cafe is just past the Outpatient Services entrance, just off 74th and Kessler streets.
- Zen Donkey’s hours inside AdventHealth are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Zen Donkey serves organic juices and healthy eats
Zen Donkey is known primarily for its “farm-to-bottle” cold-pressed juices, made with a variety of fruits, vegetables and other all-natural ingredients.
Some of those juices include the “donkey dreams” (carrot, pineapple, orange, turmeric, ginger and lemon) and the “paradise” (pineapple, lemon, dandelion greens and blue algae).
In addition to juices, Zen Donkey also serves fruit smoothies, such as the “glowing” (kale, banana, lime, dates, ginger root, ceylon cinnamon and cashew milk) and the “refreshed” (mango, pineapple, ginger root, dates and coconut water).
The cafe also offers a variety of plant-based snacks and meals, from wraps and salads to “power” bowls and chia pudding cups.
“Through this location, we’re making our mark on the “Food As Medicine” movement that I dream will impact many generations to come,” said Kate Barker Sternberg, founder and owner of Zen Donkey Farms, via a release this week. “I believe that traditional medical care and nourishment from the earth can work together powerfully to support people navigating cancer.”
This marks Zen Donkey’s second JoCo storefront
Owners Kate Barker Sternberg and Andy Sternberg initially launched Zen Donkey Farms in 2016.
Initially, the brand started off primarily with juice deliveries, while also working up a following at pop-up events and farmers markets around the Kansas City metro area.
Then last summer, Zen Donkey opened its flagship brick-and-mortar storefront at the historic Fairway Shops.
The purpose of Zen Donkey is twofold. In addition to its cafes, Zen Donkey’s nonprofit, Zen Donkey Experience, connects kids and adults with neurological challenges with rescue donkeys for therapeutic purposes.
As a donkey rescue program, the nonprofit also works to raise awareness about the ways donkeys are often used (and harmed) in the skincare industry.
“I’m deeply grateful to AdventHealth for investing in a local, plant-forward, woman-owned business to serve the Cancer Institute community,” Barker Sternberg said via the release. “It’s an honor to contribute to a space dedicated to healing, nourishment, and moments of joy.”
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