By Maria Cendejas

Starbucks is opening a new chain of juice bars in response to the growing health trend towards unprocessed and whole foods, according to Natural News.

The juice bars will offer fruit and vegetable options which can be mixed according to consumer preferenceand true menu options like "Spiced Carrot" that contains carrots, blueberries, and cinnamon.

Thicker smoothies can be supplemented with protein ingredients such as juiced wheat grass and nut butter. Healthy foods and snack options, including a wide menu to support vegetarian and vegan lifestyles will be available. The juices are all raw, having been pasteurized using a new method that doesn't rely on heat, to preserve the maximum possible nutritional content while still providing a degree of protection against pathogens.

The juice bars will open in mid 2012, but the first one has already opened in Washington. Starbucks calls the expansion a lucrative investment by citing the easy financial returns and success of even small independently run juice bars. They think the market demand is high enough to warrant its own set of chains, not just an extra few fruit options on the menu at their coffee shops.