Timely Health Care for Avocado Growing Families

Avocado workers at Calavo de Mexico’s Fair Trade Certified orchards in Michoacán identified timely and affordable healthcare as a critical priority for their families. While workers receive essential health coverage through the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), a 2023 needs assessment revealed significant gaps within the public system. Long wait times for specialist appointments and diagnostic tests, often stretching from three to six months, made it difficult to access critical services when families needed them most. Faced with urgent medical concerns, workers frequently had to pay out of pocket for private providers. This dynamic placed a heavy strain on household budgets and severely limited their ability to afford necessary follow-up care. To solve this pressing challenge, the Fair Trade Committee, guided by community input, allocated $111,300 USD of 2025 Community Development Funds to establish a coordinated health services program in partnership with private doctors across Michoacán. This worker-led initiative aims to make it possible for Fair Trade participants and their eligible family members to access timely, free medical care. The comprehensive program covers physical rehabilitation, X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, clinical laboratory tests, and orthopedic aids. It also prioritizes dedicated women’s health services and psychological therapy. To reach even more people across the avocado-producing region, the committee organized specialized visual health campaigns in multiple municipalities, bringing essential ophthalmological care directly to farming communities. The positive impact of this initiative has been immediate and measurable. By actively tracking appointments and services each month, the committee reports that 1,561 people have received care to date. By drastically reducing wait times and eliminating out-of-pocket costs, this project empowers workers and their families to address health issues early and manage ongoing conditions safely. Through their collective decision-making, the workers at Calavo de Mexico have successfully built a vital support system that protects both their physical well-being and their long-term financial stability.