Village Farms Fresh supports Texas veteran with Military Makeover

Village Farms Fresh recently partnered with the special home improvement series Military Makeover hosted by Montel Williams. The company is featured in episode two of season 36 that airs on Lifetime TV.  Decorated U.S. Army veteran Carlos Colón-Ruiz who resides in Arlington, TX, along with his family, receive an awesome complete home remodel during the series.

“Village Farms Fresh is honored to partner with Military Makeover on this series in support of Infantry Sergeant Colón-Ruiz, an outstanding veteran and exemplary human being. Our company has deep roots in Texas, with a team that was profoundly inspired to help with this veteran’s surprise home renovation,” said Micheal DeGiglio, president and CEO of Village Farms International.

DeGiglio is a veteran who served in the U.S. Navy as an officer and jet aviator, as well as in the Naval Air Reserves, and retired at the rank of Captain. 

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 then President George W. Bush and received an Infantry Badge and Army Commendations medal.

“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 and executive vice president of programming for Military Makeover and BrandStar Entertainment.

A group of Village Farms Fresh employees who reside in the Dallas Fort Worth area, where the company has a Distribution Center, volunteered their weekend to help in the renovation of the veteran’s home. The company has a history of giving back to communities in Texas and feels a strong affinity to helping veterans, not to mention has several veterans in the company, including one who volunteered that day to help with the renovation.

Brandon Jamison, director of quality assurance for the company and Army veteran who served in Iraq, said, “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.”

Village Farms Fresh’s heritage as a long-standing continuously owned tomato greenhouse grower in the country and largest tomato producer in the great state of Texas was discussed by DeGiglio with show co-host Art Edmonds during this episode.

The afternoon of volunteer work would not have been complete without a Texas-style barbeque in the backyard of the veteran’s home cooked up by a local chef while the teams finished up their efforts. The Village Farms Fresh volunteers and Military Makeover crew devoured the food served featuring local produce grown at the company’s environmentally friendly Texas greenhouses.

Juicy Beefsteak tomatoes were the main course of a scrumptious BLT sandwich.  While a mouth-watering Caprese salad was served featuring Sinfully Sweet Campari tomatoes. Yummy Heavenly Villagio Marzano tomatoes were grill-roasted then slathered in chimichurri sauce.  All made for a tasty and productive afternoon of Village Farms Fresh’s giving back.

The heartfelt mission of the day on this volunteer weekend left a feel-good impression for all who attended.  The company gifted the family handpicked items for their new kitchen, including a huge basket of Village Farms produce along with culinary accompaniments for the family to prepare their favorite healthy dishes. Taylor DeLeon, quality control and sales administrator for the company, who was a volunteer that day and helped with the staging of these items in the veteran’s new kitchen, said, “It was a joyful afternoon full of grit and fun. I am proud the company championed this valuable effort to help a well deserving veteran who gave to his country so selflessly.”

Socially responsible initiatives such as this partnership with Military Makeover showcasing Village Farms Fresh’s giving back to the communities it serves, and especially veterans, have always been important to the company in its home state of Texas. To view the episode please click here: https://militarymakeover.tv/village-farms-texas-style-bbq-at-the-home