A lifesaving partnership: How a shared mission for clean water united mango industry veterans in Latin America

In the remote villages of Latin America, clean water can be the difference between survival and struggle. For decades, communities like La Colonia, DR, faced daily challenges in accessing this most essential resource, but that reality is changing thanks to the determination of volunteers and unlikely partners.

Albert Perez, founder of Continental Fresh, has been committed to helping these communities through financial contributions with his Water For All branded mangos and hands-on involvement. For over 40 years, Perez has been participating in annual service trips, traveling to remote villages and helping build water systems that transform lives. His dedication runs deep, having seen firsthand how clean water can uplift an entire community — improving health, boosting education and fostering economic stability.

This passion for humanitarian work brought Perez and Eric Nagelberg, owner of Panorama Produce, together. Although competitors in the mango industry, they found common ground in a cause much more significant than their businesses. In late July, Nagelberg joined Perez on one of these trips to La Colonia, where they worked alongside local families and volunteers to build an aqueduct that would finally bring fresh, running water to the community.

““Albert’s been telling me about this trip for over ten years, but I couldn’t make it work when I was younger. As I’ve gotten older, my desire to give back has grown stronger,” said Nagelberg. “My relationship with Albert is both personal and professional, and when he asked again, I knew it was the right time to join him and make a real impact together.”

The two competitors, now collaborators in clean water, recognized that access to clean water transcends any business rivalry.

“Water is life-changing,” said Perez. “When you see the impact that it has on a community — from improving health to giving children the ability to attend school regularly — it’s a reminder that some things are far more important than competition.”

For over a week, the team, which included 25 volunteers from high schools, colleges and the agriculture industry, including Nagelberg’s wife and daughter, lived and worked in the heart of La Colonia. The volunteers mixed concrete, laid pipes and trekked through the mountains, all united by a single purpose: to bring clean, reliable water to families who had lived without it for generations.

“These trips are about much more than just providing water,” said Nagelberg. “They are about building hope. Being part of this mission opened my eyes to the profound effect that something so simple — something many of us take for granted — can have on an entire community.”

The work’s impact didn’t just change the lives of the families in La Colonia; it also left a lasting mark on the volunteers. For many, the experience was life-changing, offering a new perspective on the importance of clean water and the power of collective action.