Sustainable collaboration is key for Laura Begent and her family at Green Jar Beverage Company, selling their smoothies and spritzers exclusively at Northern Utah farmers markets. For the first time, this year the Draper-based family business brings their talents up the mountain to Wednesdays’ Park City Farmers Markets.

Green Jar has been in business for 5 years. The idea came from a place of nostalgia. “We lived out in Hawaii for about 13 years and we just missed it when we came back. So, we started a smoothie business,” said Begent.

They created a simple menu, offering three smoothie flavors — Signature Green Jar, Mango Sunrise and Guava Lava — and three spritzer flavors — Guava, Passion Fruit and Mango. Smoothies are blended on the spot, and the spritzers, which are made with a fresh mint puree, fresh fruit puree and topped with seltzer water. “It’s kind of like a real fancy La Croix,” explains Begent. A glance at the ingredients suggests a tropical paradise like Hawaii, listing blends of mango, pineapple, dragonfruit, passion fruit, guava and more. All drinks are sold in 16-ounce sizes ($7); or 32-ounce sizes with a jar ($11) or for refilling a jar ($8).

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While the menu is small, Begent and her team are happy to get creative with customers. Experimentation led to their most popular order, the “Tie-Dye” smoothie. Of course, I had to try it. First, the jar is given a berry puree drizzle then is filled with a layer of their Mango Sunrise smoothie, topped with the Signature Green smoothie and garnished with a thick slice of fresh pineapple.

Though slightly intimidated by more smoothie than I’ve ever eaten in one sitting, the first sip was like drinking cold water after an intense hike. I couldn’t put it down. Naturally sweet and balanced, the mango-peach base was my first taste. Not too thick, the smoothie was so well blended it almost had a creamy texture. Getting a sip of the greens blend, I was pleasantly surprised by the refreshing earthiness. Individually both were tasty, but together they offered a dynamic drinking experience which continuously evolved. I will definitely be bringing my jar back for more.

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Passionate about eliminating waste, Green Jar encourages buyers to bring their own cups or can provide mason jars for their large size. Customers who bring back their mason jar are offered a $3 discount on their refill purchase. “It’s been neat because over the years we’ve grown with our reusable cup business and we do about 50% repeat customers with the jars now,” says Begent.

Another way they help eliminate waste is through partnerships with other market sellers: “We use greens at each farmers market from the local farmers that sell at the market. And we try to buy all of the windfall fruit from the fruit vendors because we can use their bruised product,” says Begent. “So, as much as we can, other than the tropicals, we use local products.”

In the Signature Green Jar smoothie, the spinach, kale and chard were purchased from Madison at MadSnacks Farm, an Oakley-based and family-run farm. This partnership keeps small businesses supporting each other.

You can taste the refreshing offerings of Green Jar Beverage Company at the Park City Farmers Market on Wednesdays, or on Thursdays at the Heber Market on Main, Saturdays at the Downtown Farmers’ Market at Pioneer Park and Sundays at the Wheeler Farm Farmer’s Market.