Dan’s Story… In Words and Pictures

I grew up the oldest of three children to a 20-year Marine Corps veteran Dad and an IBM trained Mom. My Dad was a “photo reconnaissance” expert tasked to take pictures from the back of an F4 Phantom Jet of the enemy landscape during the Korean War. I got to grow up going to the El Toro Marine Corp Base in Irvine, Ca hanging with the Marines who were protecting our U.S.A.

Meeting a super high energy and cute fellow Procter & Gamble employee who had no faith in God to join my lost faith in God, led us to a journey and destiny with God. Nine years after having twin boys, almost going through a divorce, turning to follow Jesus, getting a reverse vasectomy, having two more children, we then bought the farm!

Following Jesus would become the central focus of our lives. He took us to places and circumstances that forever impacted our trek and journey in life. Leaving city life and buying a fruit farm totally transformed our lives.

It was on the farm, picking fresh fruit right off the trees, and Kim turning that fruit into the best tasting smoothies, that gave us the vision to start a fresh fruit smoothie business called 9 Fruits.

God Providentially ushered us to Nashville, TN to start a new life and start a new business. Leaving the corporate world after 32 years to take over a small business was perhaps the greatest learning experience I could face. It required much more vision, time, sacrifice, energy, and focus than I ever thought.

Making the mental transition from an employee to an entrepreneur was daunting. But totally worth it! Building long-lasting relationships in the community is the greatest benefit of whatever sacrifice it takes. 

What our family learned through the monumental effort and sacrifice to start a family business was the ultimate transformative experience in life. We counted it a major blessing to share the wholesomeness of fresh fruit smoothies PLUS the “Fruit of the Spirit” with everyone we met!

Thank you Nashville for opening your arms to our family. This story is our gift back to y’all!

Dan & Kim Banks