A Healthy Family Business
Isaiah Walker is helping the Black Seed Brothers grow in Harlem.
Isaiah Walker works with the Black Seed Brothers, contributing to their mission of introducing healthy solutions and changing the community's narrative through their products. Originally from Harlem, USA, Isaiah had previous experience in the seafood and produce business in South Carolina, where he lived for seven years. Rell, the CEO of Black Seed Brothers, recognized Isaiah's existing knowledge and gave him the opportunity to join the business, bringing his entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen to the forefront.
The core product offered by the Black Seed Brothers is old-fashioned watermelon with black seeds, setting them apart from the common seedless varieties found in supermarkets. Isaiah, along with the team, sells these watermelons, emphasizing that they are "real black seeds from the dirt". These sweet, Southern watermelons are trucked directly from farms in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, ensuring their authenticity and quality. Beyond just whole watermelons, Isaiah also offers 10 oz watermelon drinks, further expanding their range of healthy, fruit-based options for the community.
Their main stand on Lenox Avenue and 139th Street operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, making their nutritious products consistently accessible. People come from all over the city to purchase their red and yellow watermelons, further demonstrating the reach and demand for their old-fashioned, seeded fruit. Isaiah’s stand on 130th and Lenox branches out to connect with customers that find it less crowded.
The impact of the Black Seed Brother’s efforts extends across the entire community. Isaiah proudly notes that the whole community buys their watermelon—from kids to adults, and the elderly— "no discrimination".
“These seeded watermelons help put all the minerals back in your body and keep you hydrated,” Isaiah highlights. These health advantages are a key part of the value proposition the Black Seed Brothers offer. The focus on hydration and mineral replenishment underscores their commitment to providing products that genuinely contribute to the well-being of their customers.
Expanding on the health benefits, the black seeds themselves are nutrient-dense and offer significant nutritional value. Watermelon seeds are a source of magnesium, with a 4-gram serving providing 5 percent of the daily value; this mineral is essential for many of the body’s metabolic functions and maintaining nerve and muscle function, as well as immune, heart, and bone health. They also contain iron, which is crucial for carrying oxygen through the body and helping convert calories into energy.
Furthermore, watermelon seeds provide monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, known as "good" fats, that are useful in protecting against heart attack and stroke and lowering levels of “bad” cholesterol. Lastly, they are a good source of zinc, an important nutrient essential to the immune system, the body's digestive and nervous systems, cell regrowth and division, and your senses of taste and smell.
For Isaiah, this venture is more than just a business; it's about building a legacy. Inspired by his own father, who instilled entrepreneurial values in him by having him sell candy as a child, Isaiah now involves his two children in the business. He aims to implant that same work ethic and sense of entrepreneurship in them, fostering a family-orientated business. His ultimate goal is for the business to carry on over and keep building generationally, inspiring future brothers and sisters to continue providing healthy solutions and positive change within their communities.