Village Farms International Announces the Addition of Dr. Roberta Cook to its Board of Directors

VANCOUVER, Jan. 4, 2016 /CNW/ - Village Farms International Inc. (Village Farms) (VFF.TSX) (OTCQX:VFFIF), today announced that its Board of Directors elected Dr. Roberta Cook to serve as a Director of the Company, effective January 4, 2016. 

Dr. Cook currently is the Cooperative Extension Marketing Economist in the Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics (ARE) at the University of California, Davis. She conducts applied research and industry outreach programs focusing on the marketing and international trade of fresh fruits and vegetables, including North American fresh tomatoes and trends in consumer demand and food distribution.  She has a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University.  She serves on the Board of Directors of Ocean Mist Farms and has been a member of the Board of Naturipe Farms and Sunkist, as well as numerous other board and advisory boards in the produce industry. For nearly a decade Dr. Cook was Faculty Director of the California Agribusiness Executive Seminar co-sponsored by UC Davis and Wells Fargo Bank. She has been honored as one of the top 25 produce industry leaders in 2011 by The Packer.

John McLernon, Chairman and head of the Nominating Committee, said "We are proud to announce that the decision culminating in the addition of Roberta to the Board is noteworthy and we are confident her appointment will broaden the intellectual base of our Board. Dr. Cook brings significant expertise to the Village Farms Board of Directors with her extensive industry, market and trade knowledge both domestically and internationally.  Chairman McLernon went on to say "We are especially excited about her deep knowledge of the dynamic fresh fruit and vegetable industry and its evolving trends as well as her expertise in the global greenhouse sector. Additionally, her demonstrated business acumen and stellar reputation working with an array of governments, businesses, financial institutions and company boards will be beneficial."

About Village Farms
Village Farms is one of the largest producers, marketers, and distributors of premium-quality, greenhouse-grown fruits and vegetables in North America.  The food our farmers grow, along with other greenhouse farmers under exclusive arrangements are all grown in environmentally friendly, soil-less, glass greenhouses.  The Village Farms^® brand of fruits and vegetables is marketed and distributed primarily to local retail grocers and dedicated fresh food distributors throughout the United States and Canada.  Since its inception, Village Farms has been guided by sustainability principles that enable us to grow food 365 days a year that not only feeds the growing population but is healthier for people and the planet.  Natural resource efficiencies such as water conservation and renewable energy optimizing cogeneration are all part of our clean technology model of farming. Village Farms is Good for the Earth^® and good for you.

SOURCE Village Farms International, Inc.

Stephen C. Ruffini, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Village Farms International, Inc., [phone] ext 340.