Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Organics Unlimited! Did you know one of the most popular Halloween costumes is a banana? Who wouldn't want to dress up as a delicious and nutritious super food? ;) Check out these adorably tasty costumes, and have a happy and safe Halloween!

Football Banana Recipes

It’s officially football season, and while some customers are throwing parties and tempted by the usual unhealthy standbys like chips, dips and cookies, we’ve found some great recipes for alternative snacks. Delicious, nutritious and easy, these recipes are sure to please sports enthusiasts everywhere.These recipes will work perfectly with Organics Unlimited or GROW bananas.

Dips

Banana Dip

Spicy Banana Dip

Caramel Banana Dip

Ecuadorian Bean and Banana Dip

Banana Avocado Dip with Plantain Chips

Snacks

Vegan Banana Bread

Banana Roll Ups

Banana Cookies

Grilled Bananas

Banana Fritters

Drinks

Banana Daiquiri

Banana Foster

Banana Colada

Banana Beer

Storm Update in the Pacific

As growers, we are always subject to weather conditions, and certainly to major storms.  In our growing areas of Colima we were recently visited by Hurricane Jova, which caused varying amounts of damage to growers in the area based on exact locations, elevations, and proximity to the coast.  The major problem was flooding based on the torrential downpours.  Fortunately we did not experience the high winds often a part of this type of storm. 

While we did incur some damage, most of our crops are, or can be, spared devastation.  The flood waters are receding at this point, but the low lying areas will need to be replanted once the waters are down.  In higher areas, flooding can sometimes damage the banana plants, but if the waters recede quickly enough so that they are flooded for three days or less, the leaves of the plants may yellow and production is delayed but we will still get production from those plants. 

Clean up is underway, and replanting will begin shortly.  To our customers, we want you to know that we have production to continue to fill your orders with high quality organic bananas.  And thanks to the efforts of our GROW scholarship students, who have offered us a hand, we should be back to full operations shortly.  We salute these young people who have such giving hearts, and will update you on their efforts in the coming days.

Celebrate with Bananas!

October is a time when candy corn, chocolate bars and sugary sweets are everywhere. Unhealthy snacks are hard to resist, yet very prevalent during this time of year. Why not encourage your customers to be creative this Halloween and use bananas to create fun and nutritious themed snacks?

Every child and parent will love the idea of something fun, healthy and easy to eat at Halloween. We’re recommending these simple and tasty “Banana Ghosts”: Take a ripe Organics Unlimited or GROW banana, slice in half and insert a wooden stick into the flat end. Brush melted organic white chocolate on the banana and stick organic chocolate chips or currants on as the eyes.

We also love whipping up this “Cauldron of Slime”: Melt 16 ounces of organic baking chocolate. Stir In 2 tablespoons of organic cream and 12 drops of green food coloring. Pour into a lined cauldron or Halloween-themed dish. Add some dry ice. Serve with sliced GROW bananas.

Do you have any ideas for fun ways to use bananas during Halloween? Leave them under comments!

Halloween Fun

Love these pictures of a ProOrganics employee dressed up for Halloween last year. Their GROW Banana costume earned them the first place prize for the costume contest!

October is Fair Trade Month

In October, we celebrate the contributions of Fair Trade USA!  With a mission to enable sustainable development and community empowerment by cultivating a more equitable global trade model that benefits farmers, workers, consumers, industry and the earth, Fair Trade certifies and promotes the products they touch to US consumers. 

This year, Organics Unlimited joined the Fair Trade movement as an additional way to promote social responsibility within the banana industry.  We have certified some of our farms in Mexico, and the funds from the sale of Fair Trade bananas are helping with worker programs that are the things that are most important to the communities we serve. 

Fair Trade values are the cornerstone of the work they do in farming areas of the world. 

• Empowerment: We believe in empowerment and freedom of choice as means to a better world.
• Integrity: We strive to always act ethically and we value relationships built on honesty, mutual respect and trust.
• Sustainability: We engage in sustainable solutions to global problems that affect the earth and its people.
• Innovation: We transform the world through entrepreneurial creativity and lead by example.
• Excellence: We believe that quality of life, work and performance are critical to achieve our mission.
• Personal Development: Strong organizations rely on strong individuals. We encourage and support each other to realize our fullest potential, and will thereby strengthen our internal community.
• Community: We value our global and internal communities' diversity of perspectives, and know that each may hold a piece of the solution. We collaborate and partner for mutual success.
• Fairness: We work to create opportunities and extend the benefits of globalization to all people, everywhere.
• Impact: We build positive solutions that achieve meaningful social and environmental change in the world.

Help us to celebrate Fair Trade Month and ensure that workers everywhere receive fair wages and opportunities for a brighter future.