~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Wedding Vendor Feature ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Trying to think of a cool, unique treat to offer at your wedding? You have to check out this weeks vendor, Guanabana Artisan Ice Pops! These delicious, refreshing, 100% real fruit popsicles are sure to delight your guests! Check out their interview below to learn more!
Guanabana Artisan Ice Pops
by Oliver & Julieta Mosqueda
Jacksonville, Florida
904-891-5236
info@guanabanaicepops.com
Q: When did you first launch your business and why?
A: We’re both from South America, Julieta from Colombia and Oliver from Venezuela. When we moved to the United States, we noticed a stark contrast in the lack of fruit in store-bought pops here versus the 100% fruit used in popsicles back home. We wanted to give our children healthy treats, and ones that reminded them of their roots.
After months of research and recipe testing (the kids were our very willing first taste testers), we created a product line of over 40 different ice pops! We enjoy introducing people to the tastes of South America with flavors like our signature Guanabana and Pineapple Ginger Lemonade, and we’ve taken inspiration from the United States with pops like our Peanut Butter and our Cookies n’ Cream.
Jacksonville has been our home since 2007, and we love being involved in our community. Look for our green tricycle and cart at events like the Riverside Arts Market, Jaxsons Night Market, Downtown Art Walk, and more!
Q: What made you want to work in the wedding industry?
A: We are a husband and wife team, and we know just how important that big day is for the bride and groom! While we aren’t exclusively a wedding vendor, weddings are so special to us because we love being there for the first step in a couple’s future.
Q: Have you had any celebs come through the door?
A: The Jacksonville Jaguar players and the mascot Jaxson de Ville are big fans of our ice pops. We love being able to hang out with our local football team and offer them a cool treat! Former Mayor Alvin Brown and Melanie Lawson from the WJXT Morning Show have also raved about our pops!
Q: Do you cater to other events besides weddings?
A: We cater to all kinds of events! From the Riverside Arts Market and Jaxsons Night Market to fundraising at schools and food truck rallies, we’ve had our mobile tricycle at all sizes of events.
Q: What is your most popular popsicle flavor?
A: While every event can have a different favorite, our overall most popular flavors are watermelon, coconut, pineapple ginger lemonade, and guanabana.
Q: What is YOUR favorite flavor?
A: Currently our favorites are moraberry, Super C, and our namesake - guanabana! We’re always experimenting with different flavors though, so when you visit us be sure to ask what flavors we’ve come up with recently!
Q: What makes your business and talent unique?
A: Guanabana Ice Pops is a small family company. We take great pride in sourcing local ingredients wherever possible, and using trusted partners for our tropical ingredients. We believe in educating consumers on healthy ingredients (and new fruits!), without being stuffy about it. Our ice pops will always be healthy treats that anyone can enjoy!
We are a happily married couple who also works together - and we wouldn’t change it for the world!
Q: How do you envision your business growing and/or changing in the next 5 years?
A: In the next 5 years we’re hoping to expand and have multiple mobile tricycles, as well as a storefront! We are always finding new ways to be connected and involved in our community, and we’d like to continue to find new ways to do that. We’ll continue to add flavors, and build partnerships with local farmers!
Q: Do you have any funny, business/wedding related stories to share?
A: During one of our weddings, the grandfather of the bride ate six pops! He had expected them to taste like a pop you buy in the store, but as soon as he realized how fresh and homemade our pops are, he couldn't stop coming back for more! And each time he came back he wanted to hear about every flavor. We love when people are enthusiastic!
Q: What is your favorite thing about your job?
A: Getting to meet so many really fantastic people. We love watching people’s faces when they try new flavors, and we love when kids realize that eating healthy can still be fun! We also have so much fun experimenting with new flavor combinations!
Q: Do you travel/accommodate out of state brides, or do you only do local weddings?
A: We’re always happy to talk to out of state couples about their needs! We love traveling!
Q: What advice do you have for brides-to-be?
A: The most important thing is the love you have for your partner. When you have stressful moments about something that might be going wrong, remember that your love will far outlast the wedding day. Your family and friends are there to celebrate all of the serendipitous moments that happened to allow you to meet and fall in love with your soulmate. Soak up every moment of the day in joy and happiness.
The beauty about this place is that it's not just a unique space in itself, but it's a full-service catering space as well, and the food is incredible. We worked / developed a relationship with the Los Angeles wedding venues over the course, and nothing is out of reach.
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