Today we’d like to introduce you to Julieta Mosqueda.
Hi Julieta, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Guanabana started in 2014 as a small dream between my husband Oliver and me. We both come from Latin American backgrounds and wanted to create something that felt close to home—fresh, joyful, and full of real fruit flavor.
We started with a simple but cool tricycle, riding around Jacksonville selling handcrafted paletas made with real fruit and inspired by the flavors we grew up with. At the time, it was just the two of us, no big plan, just a lot of passion and a love for what we were doing.
People quickly connected with our products, and that gave us the motivation to keep growing. We added a food truck, expanded the menu with smoothies, fruit bowls, and other unique desserts, and later moved into wholesale. Now, after 11 years of hard work, we’re finally opening our first brick-and-mortar store at the beginning of this year.
It’s been a journey with lots of learning and love. For us, Guanabana has always been about more than just desserts—it’s about sharing culture, creating memories, and spreading fruit vibes wherever we go.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Haha, no—definitely not a smooth road! Like many small businesses, we’ve had amazing moments, but we’ve also made plenty of mistakes along the way. It hasn’t been easy at all, but we truly believe that consistency is the key to success. Every time we fall or something goes wrong, we get back up and keep going.
Some of the biggest struggles in the beginning were the language barrier and the fact that we had very young kids at the time. It was hard to figure out how to work long hours without knowing who would watch them. We also didn’t have much funding, so everything was built little by little, with a lot of sacrifice.
And honestly, one of the hardest things was overcoming the fear, the fear of thinking maybe we couldn’t do it. But every challenge taught us something, and looking back, those tough moments made us stronger and more grateful for how far we’ve come.
As you know, we’re big fans of Guanabana. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Guanabana is our heart. It’s a fruit-based dessert shop that my husband Oliver and I started from scratch, and everything we make is handcrafted with real, fresh ingredients. We specialize in tropical treats—paletas, smoothies, fruit bowls, and ice cream, always made from real fruit, never artificial flavors or colors.
What makes us different is that we truly care about what we’re serving and how we make people feel. Our flavors are inspired by the fruits we grew up eating, like guanabana, passion fruit, mango, and coconut. Each recipe has a story behind it, and we’ve worked hard to keep that homemade, authentic feel, even as we’ve grown.
We’re known for our colorful menu, our tropical vibes, and the happiness our treats bring. Honestly, one of the things we’re most proud of is that we’ve never lost our essence. We started with a little tricycle and a dream, and now we’re opening our first store, but every paleta and every scoop of ice cream is still made with the same love and intention as day one.
More than anything, we want people to know that Guanabana isn’t just dessert, it’s joy, it’s family, it’s culture. When you visit us, you’re not just getting a treat, you’re sharing a piece of who we are.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Without a doubt, our three kids deserve a huge amount of credit. Like I mentioned before, they were very young when we first started Guanabana. From the beginning, we called them our “Tasters Team” because they were always the first to try and approve every new flavor we created. As they’ve grown, they’ve become more and more involved in the business. They help with everything—from working on the truck and in the store, to making ice pops, contributing social media ideas, and stepping in wherever we need them. Their support has been incredible, and after Oliver and me, they’re the ones who know the business best. But more than anything, it’s been beautiful to see how proud they are of what we’ve built together. That alone means the world to us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://guanabanajax.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guanabanajax
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guanabanajax
