GROW 2024 Impact Report
Rooted in Community
When Organics Unlimited was founded in 2000, it was built firmly upon principles of respect, sustainability, and an unwavering commitment to our customers and communities. Five years later, in 2005, the GROW Program was created to expand our impact within our banana-growing communities. In 2024, our focus remained on education, healthcare, and the environment—key challenges in the regions where our teams grow and work. In this year’s impact report, we highlight our efforts and achievements in Mexico, Ecuador, and our border region, showcasing how these efforts continue to transform lives and build brighter futures.
Education: The Foundation for Change
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Mexico has the lowest literacy, math, and science scores among developed nations. We firmly believe that education is pivotal in breaking the cycle of poverty and elevating growing communities as a whole by enabling students to stay in school and go on to secure a job after graduation with a wage that will allow them to improve their economic stability and quality of life for themselves and future generations.
In 2024, in conjunction with our partner, Project Amigo, we awarded 90 scholarships from primary through university. Our scholarships cover all the educational expenses that may prevent a student from completing school or going to college.
Nurturing Curiosity, Inspiring Growth
Elementary school is a pivotal moment in a student’s journey. It lays the foundation for lifelong skills, fosters curiosity, and shapes children’s confidence, which are critical for future success.
In 2024 we provided 45 scholarships for the primary school initiative which provides programming, incentives, and opportunities for students to be exposed to new ideas to help develop a love of learning. Highlights of this program include the kids’ field trip to the beach and the annual Christmas Fiesta in December.
This program also provides parents with workshops to help them understand both the short- and long-term benefits of education and to ensure they’re cognizant of their role in the success of their children’s ability to break the cycle of poverty through the power of education.
Paving the Way to Higher Education
Junior high and high school scholarships are vital in supporting students as they’re traversing those critical teenage years. Scholars of this age express a sense of vulnerability and mental health challenges as they navigate the reemergence of the normalization of dropping out of school among their peers.
Our junior high and high school scholarships cover all related costs that can be a burden for the student’s family:
Uniforms
School fees
Lab and equipment fees
School supplies
Backpacks
Transportation
One hot meal a day
Scholars have access to the GROW Education Center where they participate in homework clubs and have access to the internet, computers, printers, books, and tutors.
Thanks to this all-encompassing scholarship program, GROW scholars show higher levels of advancement to the University, significantly outpacing any other area in the state.
First Generation College Students
College is a dream for many students, but it can be a difficult prospect considering the distances that must be traveled to reach the University and the societal pressure to start working earlier to contribute to family finances.
Our college scholarships provide:
Tuition
Textbooks
School supplies
Laptop
Backpack
Modest budget for clothing
Transportation stipend to go home on the weekends
College students are housed in Casa Amiga where they receive three daily nutritious meals, have access to the computer lab, and the weekly homework club.
Congratulations to our 2024 GROW Graduates
“Now that I am at the end of my university career, I feel so proud of myself, to know how far I have come, and for the obstacles that I have survived. If one day, God willing, I am in front of my dear godparents, I would offer them all my thanks and love, for all the support they gave me throughout my university stage.””
The GROW Education Center
While the GROW Center was initially created with our scholars in mind, it quickly became a place where people from the community reached out to receive guidance and escape the insecurity that is a part of day-to-day life for people in the region.
For the students, the center hosts homework clubs, provides access to computers, internet, books, primary school programming, medical outreach, and nutrition counseling.
For women in the community, it has become a place to receive guidance on how to access state and federal assistance, assistance through the difficult process of obtaining medical benefits for minors and seniors, and general counseling in cases of family violence.
In 2024, over 90% of college graduates are employed and 5% are in the employment process
Alumni Support Beyond Graduation
GROW alumni are all first-generation college graduates and have limited knowledge on how to make the transition into the working world. The Alumni Association offers one-on-one counseling, workshops, and industry networking.
Here, new graduates will be assigned a mentor in the form of a previous GROW graduate and, when the time comes, they will also mentor newer graduates, extending the peer-to-peer support network that the scholars experienced during their school years.
“I feel deeply fortunate and grateful to have achieved my valuable goal of obtaining a professional career. If I have my sponsors in front of me, I would express my deepest affection and gratitude to them. Your generosity and unconditional support have been fundamental in my path to personal and academic fulfillment.”
Our First Carlos Cortes Scholarship Graduate
In 2023, in partnership with the Fundación Mexicana para la Educación, la Tecnología y la Ciencia (FUNED) we proudly awarded the first-ever Carlos Cortes Scholarship to Carmen Leticia Hidalgo Mujica. This scholarship funds postgraduate education, recognizing individuals whose careers reflect a commitment to social responsibility, fair trade, sustainability, and innovation in the food sector. In 2024 we proudly saw Carmen receive her master’s degree in Food Quality and Innovation from the University of Leeds.
““Today, I am incredibly proud to be a woman who has exceeded her own expectations and developed the ability to collaborate effectively to drive meaningful change. With the knowledge and skills I have gained, I am confident in my ability to apply what I have learned and give back to society through my contributions.””
Heathy Habits, Stronger Communities
In Guayaquil, Ecuador, we partnered with Children International to improve health and nutrition for children and families. The Health Promotion Program provides education on preventable health issues and offers basic health and nutritional resources to children in rural Ecuadorian communities. In 2024, over 9,000 children were educated on preventive health and healthy habits.
Additionally, the program identifies and supports moderately to severely undernourished children and empowers them and their caregivers with the means and knowledge to affordably improve dietary habits. In 2024, the program provided bimonthly food and drink for healthy spaces at five community centers.
Environmental Justice for Our Border Communities
We are proud members of the San Diego-Tijuana border community and are acutely aware of the environmental impacts of the factories in Tijuana and the port neighborhoods in San Diego.
In partnership with the Environmental Health Coalition, we worked to promote environmental justice on both sides of the border:
In Tijuana we funded an air monitoring campaign where communities are exposed to factories and diesel trucks to deepen understanding of air pollutants and their effect on these communities.
In San Diego portside neighborhoods, residents are surrounded by air pollution from port terminals, shipyards, and freeways. Due to local policies, these communities are exposed to more pollution than over 80% of California. We helped advocate for the transition of buses, heavy duty trucks, harbor crafts and cargo handling equipment to zero-emission technologies.
NEW! GROW Papaya
A big, bright development in our GROW journey in 2024 was the launch of our GROW Papaya. The introduction of this new tropical item promises to delight tastebuds and increase our capacity to drive change through the program. $0.40 of every case of papaya will go toward the GROW Fund.
Looking Ahead
Thanks to your support, GROW continues to impact lives through education, health, and environmental initiatives. Together, we’re creating brighter futures and stronger communities. Join us in 2025 as we continue to expand these life-changing programs.
Reach out to info@organicsunlimited.com for more information on how you can visit our GROW Center in Colima, meet scholars, and see first hand the impact of your GROW banana and papaya purchases.
