The Sweet Stuff

10-year-old Austinite nabs more funding for lemonade business from Whole Foods Market

BeeSweet Lemonade has received a loan from Whole Foods Market.

BeeSweet Lemonade Facebook

KVUE — The 10-year-old Austin entrepreneur whose lemonade company received an investment from Shark Tank's Daymond John has received another loan to grow her company.

Mikaila Ulmer, founder of BeeSweet Lemonde, will receive a low-interest loan through the company's Local Producer Loan Program. The loan will come alongside support from the company's loan administrators, regional buyers and local foragers to help Ulmer improve her business plan, learn market trends and connect with new partners.

John, whose investment gained him a stake in the company, will also serve as a mentor to Ulmer and share his business connections.

"There is tremendous opportunity for Mikaila Ulmer and BeeSweet Lemonade, especially with partners like Whole Foods Market on her side," John said in a statement. "I love to see young entrepreneurs create thriving businesses and am committed to helping her realize the potential for BeeSweet."

BeeSweet is currently sold in 32 Whole Foods Market stores with plans to expand into new regions in 2015. The beverage is made with mint, honey and flaxseed and comes in four flavors: mint, ginger, iced tea and prickly pear.

"We've loved sharing BeeSweet Lemonade's products and mission with our guests," said Lynda Berrios, local forager for Whole Foods Market. "Whole Foods Market is thrilled to play a role in the growth and development of this amazing product through the Local Producer Loan Program. We can't wait to see what Mikaila does next!"

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Read the full story on KVUE.com.

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Taco News

Popular Austin taco truck Con Todo wraps up business after 3 years

contodotacos.com

Con Todo is closed, but Chef Joseph Gomez is looking forward to the future.

A very popular Austin taco trailer at Celis Brewery has suddenly shut its ordering window. Con Todo chef Joseph Gomez made the announcement on his Instagram account, which was previously the business' account.

As Gomez points out in the message, the account predated Con Todo and will survive it, too, under his own name. It's a clear handle for what the chef plans to do: continue his career and the things Con Todo stood for, but not under the Con Todo name or project.

"Sorry for delay on posting but, after much thought, I’ve made the difficult decision to close the doors to Con Todo 😢. This is one of the hardest choices I’ve ever had to make," Gomez wrote. "Con Todo wasn’t just a business — it was my livelihood, my passion, so deeply personal to me. For those of you who know me, you understand how much heart, soul, time, effort I put into it."

Gomez lists several identities and callings he plans to continue expanding: among them, advocacy, cooking, writing, and being "a proud ADHD weirdo."

"My commitment to supporting migrant workers’ rights remains is as strong as ever, and I’ll continue that work through new projects, as I always have," he writes. "You’ve heard me talk about this mission before, and this year is going to be especially important to take a deep dive into it and explore what’s happening on the border towns where I am from. I won’t be quiet about it."

Gomez and Con Todo have garnered acclaim from food industry and media sources including the James Beard Foundation, Texas Monthly, and CultureMap's own Tastemaker Awards; however the chef doesn't seem too concerned with formal praise from the Michelin Guide as he signs off with the snarky Spanish "#michelinmisnalgas." (He had already been using the hashtag for years prior to winning a recommendation from Michelin in November 2024, and the team did attend the ceremony.)

According to Con Todo's website manifesto, cuisine at Con Todo was both deeply personal to Gomez and representative of the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), so it seems likely that Austinites will get to enjoy eats in the same style from Gomez going forward.

"In the mean time, keep an eye out for me doing pop ups, events, talks, panels and a little pot stirring," Gomez writes. "Nos vemos pronto!"

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