For Immediate Release: Thursday, December 11, 2008

Village Farms is pleased to announce perfect scores from their most recent GAP/GMP 3rd Party audit for all of its Texas facilities. GAP is voluntary guidelines established to ensure a clean and safe working environment for all employees while eliminating the potential for contamination of food products. Modeled after the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), this program uses the Primus Labs format and third party auditors.

This year’s scores are among the highest averages ever achieved by Village Farms’ as a company, and are unprecedented for the industry. "It’s official, and it gives me great pleasure to announce these scores as a direct reflection of Village Farms personnel. Teamwork is the combined effort that ultimately achieved this outcome", says Shirley Marcario, Village Farms GAP Administrator.

GAP addresses the agricultural issues of site selection, adjacent land use, fertilizer usage, water sourcing and usage, pest control and pesticide monitoring, cooler operations, and harvesting practices, (including worker hygiene, packaging storage, field sanitation and product transportation). GAP sanitation practices mandate use of extensive sanitation equipment, (including gloves, aprons and hairnets), a meticulous cleaning schedule, minimizing human contact with fruit, and a strong emphasis on personal sanitation.

GAP compliance is your guarantee that Village Farms is providing the safest, cleanest growing environment possible today. Village Farms maintains the highest documented Primus Food Safety scores in the industry. Our test results are available on request. Please visit our website for more information about our food safety standards at www.villagefarms.com.