CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA – Extreme weather has battered many parts of the world this year, but few countries have suffered more in lives, homes and crops lost than Peru, where torrential rains and massive flooding for much of this year has affected over 90,000 people. Heavy rain began to fall on January 30th in the northern region of Piura. Since then, more than 2,500 people have been displaced, with over 500 homes destroyed.
One Banana has operations in the region of Piura, Peru where it is estimated that 30% of the local organic banana production has been damaged. These heavy rains, powered by El Niño conditions, have drenched parts of Peru with 10 times more rainfall than normal, causing rivers to overflow, and mudslides to destroy roads and farms. Fortunately, One Banana’s organic operation in the area has been largely unaffected at this time.
Last weekend One Banana donated organic bananas to local refuge centers directly benefitting over 700 families. Over the coming days, One Banana will continue efforts to bring more bananas to donate and help other affected families in the Piura region. One Banana will also help restore local schools or rebuild other local growers.
“It is very painful for us to see families from towns in the same region who have lost everything and have had to go to refuge centers. That is why we are helping to alleviate some of their hunger and pain,” stated Rob Adams, One Banana Sales and Marketing President. “Our care for the communities where we do business is one more way that One Banana Makes a Difference.”
For more information about One Banana please visit www.onebananas.com.
ABOUT ONE BANANA
ONE BANANA is a family-owned company with operations in the United States, Guatemala, Europe, Peru, Mexico and Ecuador. It has emerged as a leader in socially responsible and environmentally sustainable farming. The Company has implemented rigorously developed workplace safety standards, the latest water conservation and rainwater collection technologies, and industry-leading worker benefits. ONE Banana’s corporate social responsibility projects include providing access to medical clinics, nutritional programs, and education that have benefited more than 19,000 people, across twelve rural communities in Guatemala.
Source: ONE BANANA