Arie Van der Giessen, a tomato grower who oversees Village Farms' state-of-the-art facility in Monahan, TX.
Village Farms International announced today it has harvested the first fruit from its new state-of-the-art greenhouse located in Monahans, Texas yesterday. The initial pick is being harvested a few weeks ahead of schedule due to the excellent greenhouse climate.
The Company broke ground on 30 acres (Phase I) in June 2011, planting the initial 15 acres in mid-December 2011 and the remaining in early January (15 acres). The Monahans greenhouse is the fifth greenhouse built by the Company in Texas, and is the first commercial size greenhouse based on the Company’s innovative proprietary technology, Greenhouse Advanced Technology Environment System, (GATESTM).
Phase I incorporates a 30 acre production greenhouse in addition to various other service buildings including an advanced technology packing, sorting, and distribution facility. The long term plan is to build a total of 120 acres, on the 320 acre site.
Michael DeGiglio, CEO of the Company stated, “Harvesting our first crop in our state of the art facility is an exciting event for the Company, considering the very aggressive timeline we committed to in building this facility.” He added “The Monahans greenhouse is truly like no other greenhouse in the world and is already demonstrating its ability to grow high quality fruit in a stable and consistently monitored growing climate, even when the conditions outside the greenhouse are less than ideal. I am proud of this significant event not only for the Company but for all the hard work and dedication it took on the part of our employees and vendors to bring the Monahans greenhouse into the production phase.”
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, Texas and Mexico. 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. Village Farms is a member of the S&P/TSX Clean Technology Index. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.villagefarms.com.
