What began as a personal response to health challenges has grown into a beverage brand rooted in purpose, culture, and community. Founded by Joyson BaLisamore, Jay’s Watermelonade is redefining what wellness-centered products can look like in Baltimore’s food and beverage scene.

BaLisamore’s journey started with lived experience. Diagnosed with high blood pressure at a young age and navigating grief after losing his mother, he found himself facing the consequences of poor eating habits that were common in his environment. In searching for healthier alternatives, he returned to something familiar. Watermelon, one of the few fruits he enjoyed growing up, became a source of hydration, balance, and inspiration.

What started as a refreshing option at cookouts and community gatherings eventually evolved into a larger vision. In 2023, BaLisamore officially launched Jay’s Watermelonade to create a culturally relevant beverage brand centered on wellness, accessibility, and joy.

Rooted in Community Experience

Growing up in a Black household where love was often expressed through food, BaLisamore saw firsthand how access and education shape health outcomes. In his community, highly processed and sugary foods were often the norm, while healthier options were limited or stigmatized. These realities, shaped by historical disinvestment, contributed to higher rates of heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes.

Rather than turning away from cultural food traditions, BaLisamore chose to reframe them. Jay’s Watermelonade embraces watermelon not only for its nutritional value, but for its cultural significance. Through his business, he aims to shift how people think about nutrition, wellness, and the foods that have long been part of Black communal life.

A Beverage Brand With Purpose

Jay’s Watermelonade stands out in Baltimore’s beverage landscape by blending flavor, storytelling, and intention. The brand offers fresh, cold-pressed watermelon-based drinks made with natural ingredients and no added sugar.

Signature offerings include Classic Watermelonade, Hydrating Colada, and Watermelon Iced Tea, each designed to be refreshing while aligning with the brand’s commitment to wellness. By focusing on simple ingredients and thoughtful preparation, Jay’s Watermelonade delivers products that feel both familiar and forward-thinking.

Building Community Through Entrepreneurship

Beyond the bottle, Jay’s Watermelonade is deeply invested in community impact. The business provides job opportunities to youth and returning citizens, partners with local wellness initiatives, and uses storytelling to amplify narratives of resilience and pride.

By vending at farmers markets, pop-ups, and community events, Jay’s Watermelonade contributes to a growing culture of local entrepreneurship, health awareness, and economic empowerment. BaLisamore sees the brand not just as a beverage company, but as a platform for connection and possibility.

Looking Ahead

The future for Jay’s Watermelonade is focused on thoughtful growth. In 2026, the brand plans to launch online and expand into select retail locations across Baltimore. BaLisamore is also working toward the development of a collaborative juicing facility alongside other local juice brands, creating shared production space and workforce development opportunities.

His long-term vision is for Jay’s Watermelonade to serve as a model for social entrepreneurship, proving that businesses rooted in purpose can scale while staying connected to the communities they serve.

A Message in Every Sip

When customers experience Jay’s Watermelonade, BaLisamore hopes they walk away with more than a refreshing drink. He wants them to feel that wellness is accessible, joyful, and culturally affirming.

“That healing can taste good. That health is for us. That joy is revolutionary,” he says.

With every sip, Jay’s Watermelonade invites Baltimore to reimagine wellness, celebrate culture, and build community through something as simple and powerful as a shared drink.


How to Contact Jay’s Watermelonade

For partnerships, vending opportunities, or inquiries, contact
Joyson BaLisamore at hydrate@jayswatermelonade.com.


GBUL Restaurant Accelerator Program Cohort and staff. Photo credit Stephen Hopkins

About This Series

This feature is part of a collaboration between The Baltimore Times and the Greater Baltimore Urban League. Over the next few months, The Baltimore Times will spotlight businesses that participated in GBUL’s Restaurant Accelerator Program (RAP), sponsored by the Pepsi Foundation. Through the program, eight businesses were awarded a total of eighty thousand dollars in grant funding and received free business coaching to strengthen their operations and community impact. For more information about RAP, visit GBUL.org.

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