Village Farms elects Dr. Roberta Cook to its Board of Directors

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 holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University. She serves on the Board of Directors of Ocean Mist Farms, 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.

 

"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," said John McLernon, chairman and head of the Nominating Committee. "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," he said. 

 

Read Produce Grower's interview with Dr. Cook about tomato trends from the February 2015 State of the Tomato issue.