Organics Unlimited's Manuel Velazquez de Leon Discusses Company Values and Category Growth

SAN DIEGO, CA - What makes for a strong partner in the fresh produce arena? With a proud legacy in the organic banana category, Organics Unlimited knows what it takes to arm its partners with a reliable supply of high-quality organic fruit. As the company gears up for this year’s Organic Produce Summit, Manuel Velazquez de Leon, Business Development and Client Relations, took a moment to highlight the values that continue to drive the brand’s growth.

“Our family was the first to pioneer organic bananas in the United States,” Manuel reflects. “This is our bread and butter, and we've been in it longer than most. Three things set us apart: supply reliability, service, and impact.”

Each of these pillars represents a key focus that translates into real value for Organics Unlimited’s retail partners:

Supply

“We have proprietary farms and long-term grower partnerships in both Mexico and Ecuador. That diversification means we're not exposed to a single region's weather, logistics, or seasonality. Our farms are within roughly three days of harvest, so what arrives at distribution is fresher than what most competitors can offer.”

Service

“We're not a large bureaucratic organization. Retailers get real responsiveness, customized programs, and a team that treats every account like a long-term relationship, because that's genuinely how we operate.”

Impact

“The GROW program has been running since 2005. It's not a marketing add-on; it's woven into how we do business. When retailers carry our product, they're participating in something that's funded education, healthcare, and housing for thousands of workers and their families across two countries.”

Organics Unlimited's GROW program contributes $0.60 per banana case and $0.40 per papaya case directly to worker communities in Mexico and Ecuador. Since 2005, more than $4 million has been contributed to the GROW Fund, with 2025 milestones including college funding for 15 students and medical support for 120 children in Ecuador.

Positioning itself for more success in the remainder of 2026, Organics Unlimited has set multiple key growth targets.

“First, we're rolling out our coconut program and introducing it to retail partners who are looking to round out their organic tropical set,” Manuel shares. “Second, we're focused on deepening existing retail partnerships. The retailers who run our full program, including GROW, tend to see better category performance, and we want to build more of those comprehensive relationships. We're also committed to continuing to invest in our grower communities through GROW. The program has real momentum, and we want to expand its reach as our volume grows.”

As Organics Unlimited continues to fuel category growth in the banana and papaya sectors, be sure to stop by booth #414 at this year’s Organic Produce Summit to learn more about the company.