Village Fresh Greenhouse Grown has appointed Helen Aquino as vice president of innovation.
“Innovation is critical to how we serve our customers and support their growth,” says Michael DeGiglio, CEO of Village Fresh Greenhouse Grown. “It allows us to stay ahead of consumer expectations and deliver products that are consistent, relevant and easy to sell.”
Aquino has been with Village Farms, now Village Fresh, since 2008, bringing more than 20 years of experience across agricultural research, brand strategy, product development and controlled environment agriculture to the role. During her tenure, she has contributed to varietal introductions, packaging innovation, category management, sustainability communications and retail-focused go-to-market strategies, the company says.
In her new role, Aquino will lead innovation strategy across varietal development, packaging and positioning, working closely with seed partners, R&D, operations and commercial teams to ensure greenhouse advancements translate into products that perform at retail.
“Understanding how consumer lifestyles continue to change helps guide our innovation,” Aquino says. “That insight drives better varieties, improved packaging and clearer choices that reflect how people shop, cook and eat.”
Prior to joining Village Farms, Aquino served as a research analyst with the Rutgers University Food Policy Institute.
