This week, avocado grower and distributor Villita Avocados Inc. in Pharr is making history in the produce industry, fulfilling orders utilizing specially made mesh produce bags that are 100 percent compostable. 

“We will be the first avocado company to come out with a 100 percent compostable, 100 percent plastic-free avocado bag in North America,” said Rob Ybarra, executive vice president of Villita.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States uses more than 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps annually, but only 8.7 percent of total plastics are recycled.  

“Our company’s philosophy is to create a better company for a better environment,”  said Ybarra. “Our CEO, Alfredo Rodriguez, had a vision. He really loves the  environment. Every time he speaks, it’s all about reduce, reuse and recycle. He’s been the biggest proponent about doing this as a company. We want Villita to be the most  sustainable company in the industry.” 

Villita Avocados is hopeful other produce companies will follow their lead by being  more environmentally conscious and steer away from using plastic.  

“It’s a big problem. We are not an environmentally-friendly as an industry,” Ybarra said.  “It really takes a disruptive force, in this case, Alfredo and his family, to do our part to  help protect the environment. We hope other companies will follow suit.” 

Villita Avocados and their new bags will soon be in select locations throughout Texas and Oklahoma and Albertson’s/Safeway stores in New York and New Jersey.