The president of Organics Unlimited, Mayra Velasquez de Leon, grew up in the organic banana industry. She recognized the challenges that farmers face and wanted to do more. After looking into humanitarian programs designed to help farmers, Mayra felt that some of them were slowed by bureaucracy and lacked first hand knowledge of the needs of field laborers. In 2005, with the help of the International Community Foundation, Organics Unlimited set up The GROW Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of farm workers and their families.
GROW was founded based on the following principles:
*Protect the biodiversity of farms and their surrounding communities
*Partner with companies that share in our beliefs, and employ sustainable production techniques to grow high-quality tropical fruit
*Be a socially responsible company that helps the local community
*Empower farm workers to build a better future for themselves and their children
*Treat workers to internationally accepted standards, with respect, dignity and a pleasant work environment
*Pay workers a fair wage for a day’s work
*Fund vital projects for farm workers
*Use ecologically sensitive farming techniques (no pesticides/chemical fertilizers)
To learn more, visit
these sites:
http://www.organicsunlimited.com/organics/grow
http://www.projectamigo.org/
http://www.icfdn.org/
G.R.O.W. Organic
Bananas
(Giving Resources and Opportunities to
Workers)
Feel good when you pick up
GROW organic
bananas!
Not only are they delicious, nutritious, and
organically grown, but your support is also making
a difference to the workers’ families and the small
communities that work hard to provide them for
you.
