Vancouver, B.C. – Village Farms has commenced operations in the Caribbean region with the first of its kind packing and distribution facility in the Dominican Republic. The fulfillment expansion is in conjunction with Village Farms International Grower Relations Supply Development Division and will operate under a new subsidiary, Village Farms DR, SRL. The new facility investment located in Santiago, Dominican Republic will include computerized grading machinery, value added packaging capabilities, cold storage and will be fully GAP certified quality assurance consistent with all Village Farms' Food Safety GFSI programs. Village Farms will begin packing sweet bell peppers from the Dominican Republic in October of 2011 using the same stringent grading specifications that the Village Farms brand has become known for. In addition, Village Farms will be managing all export logistical services of its packaged branded peppers for distribution into the United States.
Village Farms is committed to building strong partnerships with key growers in the Caribbean region, as it has done for many years in Canada and Mexico, and will provide technical expertise in the areas of variety selection, cost containment, production management, and advanced growing methods. Village Farms partner hydroponic greenhouse growers currently are located in the high elevation areas of the Dominican Republic optimal for bell pepper growing conditions. Michael Minerva, Village Farms Senior VP of Grower Relations Supply Development says, "With the proper grower training programs in place, effective packaging and logistics services, and steady guidance the Caribbean region is poised to become a consistent supplier of hydroponic greenhouse grown sweet bell peppers to the United States." Village Farms has engaged in this project to meet its growing customer demand for greenhouse grown bell peppers. Minerva adds, "Our continued focus for developing a strong base of key strategic grower partnerships will ensure superior quality with the highest food safety standards that our customers have come to depend on from the Village Farms brand".
Michael A. DeGiglio, Chief Executive Officer for Village Farms says, "We are on target with expanding our multi-faceted growth plans in North America through our continued efforts in forging new partnerships and alliances that emphasize our overall commitment to our customers of the Village Farms brand".
About Village Farms
Village Farms is one of the largest producers, marketers and distributors of premium-quality, greenhouse-grown tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers in North America. This premium product as well as premium product produced under exclusive arrangements with other greenhouse producers is grown in sophisticated, highly efficient and intensive agricultural greenhouse facilities located in British Columbia and Texas. Product is marketed and distributed under the Village Farms® brand primarily to retail grocers and dedicated fresh food distributors throughout the United States and Canada. Village Farms currently operates distribution centers located in key markets in the United States and Canada. Since its inception, Village Farms has been guided by sustainable agricultural principles which integrate four main goals; environmental health, economic profitability, and social & economic equality.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains certain "forward looking statements". These statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect our expectations regarding our growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects, opportunities or industry performance and trends. These forward looking statements reflect our current internal projections, expectations or beliefs and are based on information currently available to us. In some cases, forward looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" , "potential", "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. A number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward looking statements. In evaluating these statements, you should specifically consider various factors, including, but not limited to, such risks and uncertainties as availability of resource, competitive pressures and changes in market activity, risks associated with U.S. and international sales and foreign exchange, regulatory requirements and all of the other "Risk Factors" set out in the Company's current annual information form and management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2010, which is available electronically at www.sedar.com. Actual results may differ materially from any forward looking statement. Although we believe that the forward looking statements contained in this press release are based upon reasonable assumptions, you cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with these forward looking statements. These forward looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and other than as specifically required by applicable law, we assume no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.
Source: Village Farms
