Village Farms Fresh Produce Gives Back to Texan Veteran with Military Makeover

LAKE MARY, Fla., Nov. 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Village Farms Fresh Produce (“Village Farms Fresh”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Village Farms International (NASDAQ: VFF) is pleased to announce its partnership with Season 36 of Military Makeover by Montel Williams in support of a Texas-based U.S. Army veteran. Village Farms Fresh has a long and proud history of giving back to, and investing in, Texan communities and supporting local veterans.

Village Farms Fresh partnered with Military Makeover in the renovation of U.S. Army veteran Carlos Colón-Ruiz’s Arlington, Texas home. During Colón-Ruiz’s military career, he was deployed to Afghanistan where he suffered serious injuries in the line duty. He was awarded the prestigious Purple Heart by President George W. Bush and received an Infantry Badge and Army Commendations medal.

“Village Farms Fresh is privileged to partner with Military Makeover and Infantry Sergeant Colon-Ruiz, as a small gesture to acknowledge this outstanding veteran’s personal sacrifice. Our company has deep roots in Texas, and our team was deeply inspired to help with this surprise home renovation,” said Michael DeGiglio, President & CEO of Village Farms International, and a U.S. Navy veteran.

“It was an absolute pleasure working with Michael and his entire team at Village Farms Fresh. Their support of our show helps us provide these life changing makeovers for our deserving Veterans and we’re grateful to have had them on Military Makeover,” said Scott Moss, President & EVP of Programming for Military Makeover and BrandStar Entertainment.

Members of the Village Farms Fresh team, including two veterans, volunteered onsite to help with the renovation, in addition to the company’s financial support. Brandon Jamison, Director of Quality Assurance for the company and an Army veteran who served in Iraq, noted, “The military taught me a work ethic and a need for a sense of mission completion. Village Farms Fresh giving back to those that are deserving and have made sacrifices for our country is something I am proud to be a part of.”

During Episode 2, DeGiglio discusses Village Farms Fresh’s heritage as a long-standing continuously owned tomato greenhouse grower, as well as the largest tomato producer in the great state of Texas with show co-host Art Edmonds. The episode highlights a local chef cooking up a Texas style barbecue in the backyard of the veteran’s home featuring Village Fresh products. The link to view the episode is: