The month of September serves as a yearly spotlight for Organics Unlimited’s GROW fund (Giving Resources and Opportunities to Workers). During GROW Month, the year-round efforts made to improve social programs in Mexico and Ecuador, are highlighted through promotional activities. 

This year Organics Unlimited is adding tags to each bunch of GROW bananas that highlight one of several GROW recipients.  The back of each tag has a banana recipe, many of which are for ripe bananas.  With that in mind, GROW retailers can also get a supply of GROW banana bags from Organics Unlimited to increase the sale of some of those bananas that have passed their prime from a consumer sales standpoint. 

The GROW program is the epitome of social activism and has provided nearly a quarter of a million dollars toward educational assistance, scholarships, homework clubs, dental health and medical assistance to the workers and their families.  This year, GROW has funded 28 deserving students in junior high, high school and college through Project Amigo totaling $91,400 in scholarships to pay for registration fees, supplies, uniforms, shoes, and transportation.  Project Amigo, and its sister program, Casa Amiga, a residential facility offering housing for female students attending the University of Colima, supports higher education and health programs to rural, poor children and their families throughout Mexico.  Additional funding is underway in Ecuador to continue the mission of the GROW program which is to give a hand up, not a hand out. 

“By utilizing small growers in Ecuador and Mexico, we are continuing our mission to provide better lives for the workers, their families, and future generations,” says Organics Unlimited President, Mayra Velazquez de Leon.  “Not only is our GROW produce organic, fresh and delicious, but customers enjoy the fruits of these workers’ labor. Their purchase provides communities with a fund that goes solely toward programs that encourage health, education and well being,” says Velazquez de Leon.

The GROW program was established in 2005 by Organics Unlimited.  Through this program, buyers in the United States can help improve the lives of farm workers through a small surcharge on each box of GROW produce, available exclusively through Organics Unlimited.  Managed by the International Community Foundation, the GROW Fund has been instrumental in funding programs such as Project Amigo and Casa Amiga with the sole purpose of providing vital educational and medical services for farm workers and their families.