Organics Unlimited Continues to Invest In Grower Communities While Grappling With Rising Costs
Founded in 2000 by Mayra and Manuel Velazquez and now joined by their daughter Daniella, Organic Unlimited works to provide the highest quality organic bananas and tropical fruits and ensure that the communities where these products are grown are cared for. As third-generation banana growers, the pair saw a unique opportunity to build giving into their business and incorporate social responsibility as part of their mission.
With the formation of the GROW (Giving Resources and Opportunities to Workers) banana program in 2005, the company began to invest 60 cents from each case sold back into the communities that grow them in Mexico and Ecuador. Since its inception, GROW has returned over $2,700,000 in investments to its workers through programs that address the needs of these high-poverty communities.
GROW also ensures a set of fair business practices that protect both workers and the environment, resulting in the highest quality product available.
These programs include:
GROW also ensures a set of fair business practices that protect both workers and the environment, resulting in the highest quality product available.
These practices include:
OGC strives to offer consistent availability and pricing year over year in collaboration with Organics Unlimited, a fantastic partner in helping us offer a high-quality banana program. Despite all the incredible work that Organics Unlimited does to provide excellent product and support their growers and their communities, the banana industry remains one that historically has had a difficult time balancing the price at the register to the cost of doing business. Often growers’ paychecks are sacrificed to ensure a retail price that’s more favorable to consumers.
Like other OGC grower partners, Organics Unlimited is feeling the impact of inflation. From climbing prices on paper, packaging, pallets, and labor to regional freight increases, getting food from farm to plate has never cost more. The need to pass increases along the supply chain to support our partners is simply part of the new reality marked by soaring prices across many sectors.
While price increases can be jarring, the cost of GROW bananas is only going up a few cents per pound; a small sacrifice knowing the net result will be an increasingly sustainable banana industry with growers that are compensated more fairly. We hope that that inspires retailers to pass along some of this cost-sharing to end customers and communicate why these increases are so vital.
Daniella and Mayra
Daniella was a recent guest on The Produce Moms podcast in which she shares that “if we want to continue to see truly organic, truly sustainable produce, we need to be willing to pay a fair price for it.” The episode is certainly worth a listen, and we appreciate her work in helping to educate!
Click here to listen on Spotify
Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts
We hope our retail partners join us in continuing to support the incredible work that Organics Unlimited does to positively impact communities in banana growing regions by choosing high-quality, delicious GROW bananas.
OGC is your best partner in helping to educate shoppers and sell GROW bananas. For marketing resources such as POP, additional program information, photos and more, contact your Account Representative!