An Early & Big Win: Gargiulo Fresh Produce

In late 2017 and early 2018, response efforts were wrapping up and recovery efforts were commencing. After power was restored to facilities critical to providing medical care and other life sustaining operations, there appeared to be no system for prioritizing power restoration to remaining facilities in Puerto Rico. Economic RSF worked to prioritize power restoration efforts to businesses that were key to sustaining certain communities. Most notable among these was Gargiulo Fresh Produce in Santa Isabel, a municipality along the southern coast of Puerto Rico, with a poverty rate of 62%¹1 U.S. Bureau of the Census and an unemployment 28%²2 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Gargiulo Fresh Produce grows and processes tomatoes for export (primarily) to the contiguous United States and at the time employed approximately 800 people, providing livelihoods to local families. Although agriculture based, electric power is a critical component of the packing operations. Company officials stated the business was days away from losing the harvest and being forced to close if power was not restored. Restoring the power made it possible for GFP to keep its 800 employees engaged to process the harvest and the company added 300 jobs in the following months.