02/02/2025
✨The American Dream✨
✨11 years ago, Mike and I moved to Saint Augustine by ourselves to start a new life. We weren’t shocked by the lack of Latino representation but still felt the void, traveling to Orlando and Miami just to get a taste of Latino cuisine and to buy Latino products.
✨Imagine our surprise when we went to our amenity center one night for a community event and saw a a couple with their bike cart selling popsicles by the pool - GUANABANA painted on its side. I said to Mike: Estos son Colombianos. I approached them and met Julieta and Oli for the first time, rapid firing questions about who they are, where they’re from, what they’re selling, and how I can support. I remember seeing how people would walk by them, curious to try but not quite sure.
✨Julieta and Oli shared their plan to one day have a small food truck to sell Latino fruit salads and I remember getting teary eyed and begging them to please do it! I missed our fruit salads - it’s my literal childhood! In the meantime, Mike proceeded to order two boxes of Lulo and Mora popsicles which Julieta delivered to our house, and I remember the look of appreciation on her face. I told Mike “They’re gonna make it, baby. I know it.”
✨Fast forward a few years, we created Unidos en la Musica, and our first phone call was to Guanabana who, at that point, had their beautiful food truck. They were with us, supporting us for four beautiful years, attending tv interviews with me, putting flyers out, spreading the word to all their followers, and at times, giving me words of encouragement when I wanted to give up.
✨This family, born in Colombia and Venezuela, came to this country to work as hard as they could, pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into this dream that now sits on Gate Parkway in Jacksonville, a true testament to the power, will, dedication, and grit of our immigrant community. This country is BETTER because of this family.
✨In dark times like the ones we’re in right now, I hope more and more stories like these make their way to the surface because THIS will always be our true immigrant story ✊🏽
✨FELICIDADES !!!!! Pa’lante pues! 🇨🇴🇻🇪🇺🇸
