Eurofresh Farms’ Founder and Chairman Returns as CEO

Nov. 25, 2009 - PRLog -- Johan van den Berg has been reappointed as president and chief executive officer at Eurofresh Farms, a company he co-founded and served on its board of directors as chairman since 2005.

The management change comes days after emerging from bankruptcy Nov. 18 – less than seven months after reaching a recapitalization agreement with its investors.  

van den Berg, 54, said he is excited to resume his former role in running operations for the company, which is the leading producer of greenhouse tomatoes in the United States and one of the largest employers in Southern Arizona.

“I am extremely proud of the direction Eurofresh Farms has gone since I co-founded the company 19 years ago,” he said. “I’m also excited to return and actively lead this great company into a new chapter of our history.”

van den Berg said Eurofresh’s management is committed to innovative produce development outside of their existing tomato and cucumber varieties. The company is also researching and developing sustainable packaging options.

“We’re planning to provide more than just our award-winning tomatoes and for years to come,” he said.

van den Berg, a third-generation Dutch greenhouse owner, has more than 34 years of experience in the greenhouse produce industry beginning with his family’s business in the Netherlands. He co-founded Eurofresh Farms in Pennsylvania in 1990 and moved the company to Willcox in 1992. The Southern Arizona farming operation has grown from 10 to 274 acres and added a 44-acre greenhouse in Snowflake, Ariz. in 2002.

“To turn my small farm into one of the world’s largest greenhouse complexes is still thrilling and humbling to me, but we still have new and exciting growth opportunities ahead of us,” van den Berg said.

van den Berg is Eurofresh Farms’ largest shareholder and has invested large amounts of equity into the company. Several financial institutions such as Barclays Capital and J.P. Morgan have also contributed capital.

“I am personally committed to our customers, employees and business partners to continue providing the freshest, high-quality produce and service in the industry,” van den Berg said. “Our recent emergence and continued funding are some of the many steps we will take to stay competitive in today’s marketplace and stay on solid financial footing.”


ABOUT EUROFRESH FARMS
Eurofresh Farms is the leading year-round producer and marketer of greenhouse tomatoes in the United States and a leading innovator in the branded, flavorful fresh tomato, cucumber and pepper industry.  Premium quality and certified pesticide-free products are grown with care in one of the world’s largest greenhouse complexes with abundant Arizona sunlight. Eurofresh’s two greenhouses cover more than 318 acres in Willcox and Snowflake, Ariz.  For more information, visit http://www.eurofresh.com or call (520) 384-4621.