RIO RICO, AZ — Many Mexican produce growers have supported a program generated this week to help unpaid U.S. government workers in Nogales, Tucson and Phoenix, AZ.
Michael Vohland, managing member of Veggies Inc. in Rio Rico, said he and the Veggies team had been thinking for a couple of days on how to help regional government workers who have been unpaid for 33 days because of the U.S. government shutdown.
Michael Vohland
Vohland talked to his grower friends in Mexico, with the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas in Nogales and with other groups. He said there was overwhelming support of the new creation, tabbed “Mexico Cares.”
Mexico Cares involves Mexican growers shipping fresh vegetables to Nogales. The product is being repacked to be given free to government workers. The giveaway will begin in Nogales on Jan. 25. Unpaid government workers in Tucson and Phoenix can pick up boxes of free Mexican product on Jan. 26. The charity “3000 Club” in the two large cities is handling that distribution. Four locations in Tucson and six in Phoenix will be available for pick up.
Vohland said there are 3,000 unpaid U.S. government workers in Nogales. These are members of the U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Customs. Veggies has 40 staff workers who will be packing boxes of Mexican product in boxes. Plastic bags within the containers will protect the product. As of early on Jan. 24, growers had already donated cucumbers, Roma tomatoes, Bell peppers, eggplants, squash, mini-sweet peppers and oranges. Nogales-based packaging suppliers are donating containers and bags for the distribution effort.
Veggies Inc. phones and emails were busy handling donations and logistics. U.S. Border Patrol personnel had volunteered their free time to join repacking at Veggies.
Vohland, who is on the board of directors of the local fire department, said firefighters would also be on the packingline at Veggies.
“This is good for the industry and the growers in Mexico. They are very caring people. For them to donate to the men and women of the U.S. government shut down is past ironic. Mexico has stepped up to help Americans who are hurt by the government shutdown! It is a desperate situation for the government workers. How can anyone feed their families when they miss two paychecks?”
Vohland said this effort will continue until U.S. government workers again receive their paychecks. “My only regret on this is that I didn’t think of this a couple of weeks ago,” he added.
Vohland encouraged interested parties to contact any of the Veggies team at 520/281-5900.
