Village Farms International Inc

Our Mission and Brands

Our mission is simple—to improve life’s journey for the wellbeing of humankind, and the earth on which we live. This is no empty promise. It’s the mantra that we live by every day as we build upon over three decades of agricultural and marketing experience to build a great company. The human touch is evident in everything we do and that will never change.

We are building a family of brands across different products that encompass that mission. We are united by our shared core values: integrity, fairness, quality, inclusion, sustainability and hard work along with an unwavering desire to do what’s right.

Village Farms Fresh, our produce business, has pioneered Controlled Environment Agriculture (“CEA”) in North America and helped feed a hungry planet with sustainable greenhouse growing for over three decades. We produce and distribute fresh, premium-quality produce with consistency, 365 days a year, from more than eight million square feet of CEA greenhouses in British Columbia (“B.C.”) and Texas, as well as from our partner greenhouses in B.C., Ontario, and Mexico.

We have leveraged this expertise as a pioneer in the development of the global legal cannabis industry. Pure Sunfarms Corp. (“Pure Sunfarms” or “PSF”) and Rose LifeScience Inc. (“Rose LifeScience" or "Rose”) comprise our Canadian cannabis businesses. Pure Sunfarms is one of the largest and most respected cannabis growers in the world and a best-selling flower brand in Canada. Rose is a leading vertically integrated, branded cannabis producer, supplier and commercialization expert in the Province of Quebec.

Balanced Health Botanicals, LLC (“Balanced Health” or “BHB”) is our U.S. Cannabis business. Balanced Health owns and operates one of the leading brands in the hemp-derived cannabidiol (“CBD”) and other cannabinoids markets, produces high quality health and wellness products and distributes primarily through its top-ranked e-commerce platform, CBDistilleryTM.

Village Farms Clean Energy (“VFCE”) has partnered with Terreva Renewables (formerly Mas Energy) for a 20-year contract, which commenced in the first quarter of 2024 (including a five-year option to extend) with the City of Vancouver to capture landfill gas at the Delta, B.C. landfill site (the "Delta RNG Project"). The Delta RNG Project converts VFCE’s previous landfill gas-to-electricity business into a state-of-the-art landfill gas to high-demand renewable natural gas ("RNG") facility. Under the contract, Terreva Renewables sells the renewable natural gas and VFCE receives a portion of the revenue in the form of a royalty.

Leli Holland B.V. (“Leli”), which is owned 85% by the Company, is one of ten licensed legal producers of cannabis in the Netherlands under the 2017-2021 Coalition Agreement (further ratified by the 2021-2025 Coalition Agreement) called The Controlled Cannabis Supply Chain Experiment. Our licensed producer will start to supply legal, quality-controlled cannabis to designated Dutch coffee shops starting in January 2025.

Our Commitment and Values

Our core operating principle is to deliver fairness and satisfaction in our customer promise. We strive to operate the business for optimal success by endeavoring to be:

• a responsible producer of high-quality products

• a reliable, trusted partner to customers

• a provider of excellence in customer service and logistics

• a business with a solid balance sheet

• a company which enhances shareholder value

• a trusted steward of the environment

• a workplace where all employees can grow and prosper

• an employer for people who want to make a difference in the world

For over thirty years, we have pioneered CEA in North America feeding an increasing population through sustainable greenhouse growing. In 2017, we expanded from produce, leveraging our considerable knowledge, to the emerging legal cannabis and health and wellness market. We envisioned and created Pure Sunfarms to artfully blend our decades of CEA expertise with hands-on knowledge of legacy growing practices in cannabis. We invest in, and partner with, companies that share our values and respect for people and the environment. We believe a focus on innovation is a key driver of growth in our markets.

We are extremely proud of many things that we achieved over the past three-plus decades, but none more than our highly responsible approach to the environment. From our sustainably sourced inputs and sustainable growing methods, to our use of clean energy and other innovative technologies, we are proud to bring sustenance and wellbeing to our consumers in a way that is ethical and responsible to the planet.

Our state-of-the-art, technology-based CEA facilities use less water, land and chemicals than outdoor farming and we aim to introduce new technologies to be greener in the future. The earth's finite water supply is one of its most precious resources and our hydroponic growing method sterilizes and recirculates the same water multiple times, so that 100% of the water reaches the plants. Our proficient growing methods deliver vastly more yield per acre compared to outdoor growing, without depleting the soil. We use beneficial insects to control pests and promote healthy plant growth, and administer organic pesticides, so our GMO-free crops grow in a nourishing environment free of harmful chemicals. In one of our Delta greenhouses, we collect, filter and utilize rainwater for our plants. Our Delta greenhouses also use renewable hydroelectricity as the main power source, provide innovative energy screens to help capture the sun’s warmth and prevent heat loss, and employ blackout curtains to reduce light pollution, all in an effort to minimize our impact to the local community and ecosystem.

Business Overview

Village Farms International, Inc. (“VFF”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”, “Village Farms”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) converted from an income trust to a publicly-traded company on December 31, 2009. Our subsidiaries operated vegetable producing greenhouses since 1989 and began production in Texas in 1996. On October 18, 2006, the merger between Village Farms and Hot House Growers resulted in one of the largest producers, marketers and distributors of greenhouse grown products in North America. VFF pioneered CEA in North America, and over the years transformed the organization, adapting to meet industry changes and customer preferences, in order to persevere and remain one of the largest and longest-operating vertically integrated greenhouse growers in North America.

We produce and distribute fresh, premium-quality produce with consistency 365 days a year from more than eight million square feet of owned CEA greenhouses in B.C. and Texas, plus additional millions of square feet from our partner greenhouses in B.C., Ontario, and Mexico. We primarily market and distribute produce under our Village Farms® brand name and proprietary produce trademarks to retail supermarkets and dedicated fresh food distribution companies throughout the United States and Canada.

Our Canadian cannabis operations consist of wholly-owned, British Columbia-based Pure Sunfarms and 70% ownership interest in Quebec-based Rose LifeScience. Pure Sunfarms is one of the single largest cannabis cultivation operations in the world, one of the lowest-cost greenhouse producers and one of the best-selling brands in Canada. Pure Sunfarms leverages our 30-plus years of experience as a vertically integrated greenhouse grower for the legal cannabis industry in Canada with commercial distribution in 12 Canadian provinces and territories. Our primary objective for Pure Sunfarms is to be the leading low-cost, high-quality cannabis producer in Canada and in selected international markets. Rose is a leading vertically integrated, branded cannabis producer, supplier and commercialization expert in the Province of Quebec and is the Quebec operational unit of our Canadian cannabis segment.

Our U.S. Cannabis operations consist of wholly-owned, Colorado-based Balanced Health. Balanced Health owns and operates one of the leading brands in the hemp-derived CBD/cannabinoid market in the United States, providing us with access to the U.S. Cannabinoid market in a consumer products category adjacent to the high-tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”) cannabis market, as well as the broader consumer packaged goods wellness arena. Balanced Health has established a diverse portfolio of CBD and other cannabinoid products, including ingestible, edible and topical applications that are distributed through its top-ranked e-commerce platform, CBDistillery TM (www.theCBDistillery.com), as well as through brick-and-mortar retail channels.

We have completed the transition of our VFCE operation to a renewable natural gas facility in partnership with Atlanta-based Terreva Renewables. Operations began in January 2024. Leveraging state-of-the-art technologies, the Delta RNG facility purifies and converts landfill (methane) gas that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere to high-demand RNG. We believe this new operation will immediately contribute incremental cash flow and profitability to Village Farms.

Internationally, we evaluate, and target select, nascent, legal cannabis opportunities with significant long-term potential. This has resulted in a minority investment in Australia-based Altum International Pty Ltd (“Altum”), and an 85% ownership interest in Netherlands-based Leli.

Our Canadian Cannabis Segment

Village Farms’ Canadian cannabis segment consists of Pure Sunfarms and Rose LifeScience.

Pure Sunfarms

In June 2017, we formed a Canadian joint venture (the "Joint Venture"), Pure Sunfarms, with Emerald Health Therapeutics, Inc. (“Emerald”) to commence Canadian cannabis operations in anticipation of the adult use cannabis market becoming legal in October 2017. We contributed one of our Delta, B.C. greenhouses (“Delta 3”) to the joint venture in exchange for a 50% ownership interest in the joint venture. Emerald contributed C$20 million, which was paid in installments, in exchange for the other 50% ownership interest in the joint venture. We also contributed our experienced grower management and Delta 3 workforce to the joint venture and Emerald contributed its existing cultivation license and cannabis expertise.

On November 2, 2020, we acquired 36,958,500 Common Shares in the capital of Pure Sunfarms owned by Emerald, which increased our ownership of Pure Sunfarms to 100%. The shares, representing 42.6% of the ownership at the time, were acquired for a total purchase price of C$79.9 million (US$60.0 million), satisfied through a C$60.0 million (US$45.0 million) cash payment and a C$19.9 million (US$15.0 million) secured promissory note, which was paid in full to Emerald on February 8, 2021.

Business of Pure Sunfarms

During 2017, the Joint Venture applied for a cultivation license for the Delta 3 facility. In March 2018, the Joint Venture received its initial cultivation license for a portion of the Delta 3 facility and expanded its cultivation space via amendments to its cultivation license throughout 2018, culminating with the complete cultivation license for the entire 25-acre facility (1.1 million square feet) in March 2019. During 2018, the Joint Venture also hired a chief executive officer and adopted a name for the joint venture, Pure Sunfarms Corp. Pure Sunfarms commenced cultivation in the spring of 2018, after receiving its initial cultivation license.

On October 17, 2018, the Cannabis Act came into effect, regulating both the medical and recreational cannabis markets in Canada and providing provincial, territorial, and municipal governments the authority to regulate the distribution and sale of recreational cannabis. For the first nine months of 2019, Pure Sunfarms was a wholesale (non-branded) supplier to other licensed producers. In September 2019, Pure Sunfarms received its provincial sales license and commenced sales in Ontario and British Columbia.

In October 2019, Health Canada approved the second phase of recreational cannabis products including ingestible cannabis, cannabis extracts and cannabis topicals, referred to as Cannabis 2.0 products.

In May 2020, Pure Sunfarms received its cannabis cultivation license from Health Canada for the Delta 2 facility, providing an additional 1.1 million square feet of production capacity, enhancing its ability to grow, package and sell cannabis and cannabis extracts. Pure Sunfarms also received amended licensing from Health Canada in the fall of 2020, permitting in-house extraction operations and the sale of cannabis derivative products directly to provincial boards and authorized retailers. On June 30, 2021, Health Canada amended the Delta 2 facility license received in May 2020, permitting Pure Sunfarms to cultivate cannabis in the completed west half of the facility. In the west half of the facility, Pure Sunfarms has planted seven flower rooms and began harvesting in November 2021. Management intends to time the expansion and completion of the east half of the facility when market demand is sufficient to absorb supply profitability.

In September 2021, the Canadian cannabis business completed its first export shipment of cannabis, supplying a variety of high-quality, high-THC dried flower products to Village Farms' investment in equity interest, Australia-based Altum International Pty Ltd., for the Australian medicinal cannabis market to be sold under the Kind Medical brand.

In the fourth quarter of 2021, Pure Sunfarms, with our subsidiary Rose LifeScience, began generating sales in Quebec. Together, Pure Sunfarms and Rose execute a Canadian cannabis strategy for Village Farms, providing a means to distribute Pure Sunfarms’ flower to Quebec’s consumers.

In the third quarter of 2022, Pure Sunfarms commenced sales to three additional provinces, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and two territories, Yukon and Northwest Territories. At the end of 2022, our Canadian cannabis business was selling products in 10 of the 13 Canadian provincial/territorial jurisdictions, while it continued to advance discussions with additional provincial distributors to further expand its Canadian presence.

In the third quarter of 2023, Pure Sunfarms launched its fourth cannabis brand, Super Toast. At the end of 2023, our Canadian cannabis business was selling products in 12 of the 13 Canadian provincial/territorial jurisdictions, with the remaining province of Nova Scotia expected to carry some of our brands commencing in the second quarter of 2024.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, we believe our Canadian cannabis business had the second largest market share (by dollars) in Canada across all product categories (7.0% share, a decrease of 100 bps over fourth quarter of 2022) and the largest market share in the dried flower product category (14.7% share, a decrease of 120 bps over the fourth quarter of 2022).

During 2022, Pure Sunfarms received European Union Good Manufacturing Practice ("EU GMP") certification for its 1.1 million square foot Delta 3 cannabis facility located in Delta, British Columbia ("B.C.") which permits Pure Sunfarms to export EU GMP-certified medical cannabis to importers and distributors in international markets that require EU GMP certification. We began exporting to Israel at the end of 2022, began exporting to Germany and the UK in the fourth quarter of 2023, and continued to export to Australia throughout 2023. We expect international expansion should enhance our profitability while expanding our brand and experience into emerging new legal cannabis markets. We continue to evaluate and pursue profitable international expansion opportunities in such markets.

We believe that Pure Sunfarms is the leading low-cost, high-quality producer in the Canadian market and its low-cost structure, primarily driven by economies of scale and large-scale greenhouse experience, is sustainable and provides a competitive industry advantage. Pure Sunfarms’ cost structure, together with investment in branding and commercialization activities, is intended to support a continued incremental expansion of market share.

Due to Health Canada's limitations on marketing, and stringent branding and packaging rules, it is difficult for consumers to distinguish between different products, which places more emphasis on the management of price, potency, quality, and consistency. We believe the deep agricultural expertise of growers and excellence in brand management sets Pure Sunfarms products apart from competitors, by providing high quality cannabis to consumers at attractive prices.

Cannabis retail channels remain competitive across the country and are consolidating in select markets. Historical excess supply of product and a large number of federally-licensed cannabis producers ("License Holders" or "LPs") have contributed to price compression. During 2023, many LPs have chosen to either curtail or halt cannabis production to right size their supply to meet consumer demand, which we view as a positive for industry profitability.

Rose LifeScience

We acquired 70% ownership of privately-held Rose on November 15, 2021, with the 30% balance held by founders who have remained as senior operating management. Rose is the Quebec-based operational unit of our Canadian cannabis business, with its headquarters in Huntingdon, Quebec.

Rose cultivates and processes cannabis at its Huntingdon-based 55,000 square-foot CEA facility. The indoor, controlled growing facility was commissioned in 2020 and is licensed for use by Health Canada. Rose has been granted environmental rebates from the government of Quebec for its energy efficient design. The CEA is outfitted with special filtration on the facility exhausts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lessen odors and minimize the impact on the local community.

Rose sells its own cannabis products under six brands: nationally distributed Homage, Tam Tams, Promenade, DLYS, Pure Laine and Six Lunes, which are available exclusively in the Province of Quebec. Promenade is a collaboration with Pure Sunfarms. Rose grew market share each consecutive quarter during 2023 and held the number two position in Quebec in terms of market share during 2023, an improvement from number 10 in the first quarter of 2021.

Rose is also a leading third-party cannabis products commercialization expert in the Province of Quebec, acting as the exclusive, direct-to-retail sales, marketing and distribution entity for other best-known brands in Canada as well as Quebec-based micro and craft growers. With decades of regulated-market experience, Rose partners with cannabis companies to assist in commercializing their products, distributing the products throughout Quebec and ensuring a strong presence in the marketplace. Rose champions Quebec producers by working directly with micro-producers to advance homegrown, craft products in the province and easing the burden of commercial complexities facing smaller, local businesses.

Rose LifeScience has added a highly experienced, successful, Quebec-based leadership team to the Company, which we believe is reinforced by the industry knowledge, financial backing and human capital of Village Farms and Pure Sunfarms to allow it to grow and expand its footprint throughout Quebec as well as other provinces.

During 2023, Rose LifeScience expanded its market penetration with new listings in the key markets of Ontario and Alberta, as well the Maritime provinces - and more than doubled its production output across all formats at its cultivation and processing facility in Huntingdon, Quebec.

We believe our Canadian cannabis business is well-positioned for future growth with best-selling brands, backed by a low-cost large-scale structure and continued pursuit of future opportunities to expand sales, products and footprint in Canada and internationally.

Canadian Cannabis Industry Overview

Legal History of Medical Cannabis in Canada

Prior to October 17, 2018, the production, distribution, and use of cannabis for medical use was and has been legal in Canada since 2001, first under the federal Medical Marihuana Access Regulations, which established a legal regime for the licensing of cannabis producers and the sale of dried cannabis to registered patients pursuant to a medical document provided by a health care practitioner. The Medical Marihuana Access Regulations were later replaced with the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (“MMPR”), and then the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (“ACMPR”) as a result of a decision by the Federal Court of Canada (the “Federal Court”) in Allard v. Canada. The Federal Court held that requiring individuals to obtain cannabis only from federally licensed cannabis producers violated liberty and security rights protected by section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Federal Court found that individuals who require cannabis for medical purposes did not have “reasonable access” under the MMPR regime. Accordingly, the ACMPR contemplated both access to medical cannabis through a License Holder or through personal production exemptions, thereby giving patients reasonable access to, and choice of, cannabis product. The ACMPR provided three possible alternatives for individuals to access cannabis for medical purposes: (i) they can continue to access quality-controlled cannabis by registering with federal License Holders; (ii) they can register with Health Canada to produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes (starting materials must be obtained from a License Holder); or (iii) they can designate someone else who is registered with Health Canada to produce cannabis on their behalf (starting materials must be obtained from a License Holder).

Current Applicable Regulatory Regime

On October 17, 2018, the federal Cannabis Act and accompanying Regulations, including the Cannabis Regulations, the new Industrial Hemp Regulations (“IHR”) (together with the Cannabis Regulations, collectively, the “Regulations”), came into force, legalizing the production, distribution, and sale of cannabis for adult non-medicinal (i.e. recreational) purposes, as well as incorporating the existing medical cannabis regulatory scheme under one complete framework.

On October 17, 2019, the Cannabis Regulations were amended to expand the legally permitted categories of cannabis products and support the production and sale of edible cannabis, cannabis extracts and cannabis topicals. The amendments, among other things, outline the rules relating to packaging, labelling, and advertising, shelf-stability, cannabinoid concentration levels, restrictions on ingredients, and production and sanitation standards for edible cannabis, cannabis extracts and cannabis topical products. December 16, 2019 was the earliest date that the new classes of cannabis products could be available for sale. Edible cannabis, as well as extracts and topicals, are all now available for sale in the legalized recreational market in Canada.

Pursuant to the federal regulatory framework in Canada, each province and territory may adopt its own laws governing the distribution, sale and consumption of cannabis and cannabis accessories within the province or territory. All Canadian provinces and territories have implemented mechanisms for the distribution and sale of cannabis for recreational purposes within those jurisdictions, and retail models vary between jurisdictions.

The Cannabis Act maintains separate access to cannabis for medical purposes, including providing that import and export licenses and permits will only be issued in respect of cannabis for medical or scientific purposes or in respect of industrial hemp. Part 14 of the Cannabis Regulations sets out the regime for medical cannabis following legalization, which is substantively the same as the ACMPR with adjustments to create consistency with rules for non-medical use, improve patient access, and reduce the risk of abuse within the medical access system. Patients who have the authorization of their healthcare provider continue to have access to cannabis, either purchased directly from a federal License Holder authorized to sell for medical purposes, or by registering to produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes or designating someone to produce cannabis for them.

Adult Use Cannabis

We participate in the Canadian adult use market for cannabis in compliance with all applicable federal and provincial laws and regulations concerning the Canadian adult use cannabis market. The Cannabis Act and the Cannabis Regulations provide a licensing scheme for the production, importation, exportation, testing, packaging, labelling, sending, delivery, transportation, sale, possession, and disposal of cannabis for non-medicinal use (i.e., adult recreational use). Transitional provisions of the Cannabis Act provide that every license issued under the ACMPR that is in force immediately before the day on which the Cannabis Act comes into force is deemed to be a license issued under the Cannabis Act, and that such license will continue in force until it is revoked or expires.

Below are additional highlights of the Cannabis Act:

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Places restrictions on the amount of cannabis that individuals can possess and distribute, and on public consumption and use, and prohibits the sale of cannabis unless authorized by the Cannabis Act.

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Permits individuals who are 18 years of age or older to cultivate, propagate, and harvest up to and including four cannabis plants in their dwelling-house, propagated from a seed or plant material authorized by the Cannabis Act.

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Restricts (but does not strictly prohibit) the promotion and display of cannabis, cannabis accessories and services related to cannabinoids to consumers, including restrictions on branding and a prohibition on false or misleading promotion and on sponsorships.

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Permits the informational promotion of cannabis by entities licensed to produce, sell, or distribute cannabis in specified circumstances to individuals 18 years and older.

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Introduces packaging and labelling requirements for cannabis and cannabis accessories and prohibits the sale of cannabis or cannabis accessories that could be appealing to young persons.

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Provides the designated minister with the power to recall any cannabis or class of cannabis on reasonable grounds that such a recall is necessary to protect public health or public safety.

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Establishes a national cannabis tracking system to monitor the movement of cannabis from where it is grown, to where it is processed, to where it is sold.

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Provides powers to inspectors for the purpose of administering and enforcing the Cannabis Act and a system for administrative monetary penalties.

Licenses, Permits and Authorizations

The Cannabis Regulations establish the following classes of licenses:

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license for cultivation;

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license for processing;

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license for analytical testing;

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license for sale;

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license for research; and

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a cannabis drug license.

The Cannabis Regulations also create subclasses for cultivation licenses (standard cultivation, micro-cultivation and nursery) and processing licenses (standard processing and micro-processing). Different licenses and each sub-class therein, carry differing rules and requirements that are intended to be proportional to the public health and safety risks posed by each license category and each sub-class. Licenses that were issued under the ACMPR are deemed to be licenses issued under the Cannabis Act. Licenses issued under the Cannabis Act have associated expiry dates and are subject to renewal requirements.

Security Clearances

Certain individuals associated with cannabis licensees, including individuals occupying “key positions”, directors, officers, individuals who exercise, or are in a position to exercise, direct control over the corporate licensee, and other individuals identified by the Minister of Health (the “Minister”), must hold a valid security clearance issued by the Minister. Under the Cannabis Regulations, the Minister may refuse to grant security clearances to individuals with associations to organized crime or with past convictions for, or an association with, drug trafficking, corruption, or violent offences. This was largely the approach in place under the ACMPR and other related regulations governing the licensed production of cannabis for medical purposes. Individuals having a history of nonviolent, lower-risk criminal activity (for example, simple possession of cannabis, or small-scale cultivation of cannabis plants) are not precluded from participating in the legal cannabis industry, however, grant of security clearance to such individuals is at the discretion of the Minister and such applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Cannabis Tracking System

Under the Cannabis Act, the Minister is authorized to establish and maintain a national cannabis tracking system. The purpose of this system is to track cannabis throughout the supply chain, to help prevent cannabis from being diverted to an illicit market or activity and to help prevent illicit cannabis from being a source of supply of cannabis in the legal market. Pursuant to the Ministry of Health’s Cannabis Tracking System Order (the “Order”), a holder of a federal license for cultivation, a license for processing or a license for sale for medical purposes that authorizes the possession of cannabis must report monthly to the Minister with specific information about their authorized activities with cannabis (e.g. cannabis inventory quantities), in the form and manner specified by the Minister. The Order also provides for monthly reporting by provincial bodies and provincially authorized private retailers of certain information in the form and manner specified by the Minister.

Cannabis Products

The Cannabis Regulations set out the requirements for cannabis products that are permitted for sale at the retail level, including the limit on THC content, permitted ingredients, limit on pest control product residues, as well as microbial and chemical contaminants. As of October 17, 2019, the Cannabis Act and Cannabis Regulations permit the sale of the following classes of products: dried cannabis, cannabis oil, fresh cannabis, cannabis plants, cannabis plant seeds, as well as cannabis edibles, cannabis extracts and cannabis topicals.

Packaging and Labeling

The Cannabis Regulations set out strict requirements pertaining to the packaging and labeling of cannabis products. These requirements are intended to promote informed consumer choice and safe consumption and allow for the safe handling and transportation of cannabis, while also reducing the appeal of cannabis to youth.

The Cannabis Regulations require all cannabis products to be packaged in a manner that is tamper-proof and child resistant. Strict limitations are also imposed on the use of colors, graphics, and other special characteristics of packaging. Cannabis package labels must include specific information, such as (i) product source information, including brand name, the class of cannabis and the name, phone number and email of the licensed processor or cultivator, (ii) mandatory warnings, including rotating health warning messages on Health Canada’s list of standard health warnings; (iii) the Health Canada standardized cannabis symbol; and (iv) information specifying THC and CBD content.

A cannabis product’s brand name may only be displayed once on the principal display panel or, if there are separate principal display panels for English and French, only once on each principal display panel. It can be in any font style and any size, so long as it is equal to or smaller than the health warning message. The font must not be in metallic or fluorescent color. In addition to the brand name, only one other brand element can be displayed. Such brand element must meet the same requirements noted above as the brand name, and if an image, it must be in a size equal to or smaller than the surface area of the standardized cannabis symbol.

Health Products Containing Cannabis

Health Canada is taking a scientific, evidenced-based approach for the oversight of health products with cannabis that may be approved with health claims, including prescription and non-prescription drugs, veterinary drugs, and medical devices. Under the current regulatory framework, health products are subject to the Food and Drugs Act (Canada) and its regulations and may be additionally regulated by the Cannabis Act and the Cannabis Regulations. For many of these products, pre-market approval from Health Canada is required.

Possible Changes to the Federal Regulatory Framework

In December 2020 and January 2021, Health Canada issued a notice of intent and engaged in consultations with stakeholders on the expansion of non-medicinal cannabis research involving human participants. Health Canada proposed to amend the Cannabis Act, the Cannabis Regulations and the Food and Drug Regulations so that non-medicinal cannabis research involving human participants is regulated exclusively under the cannabis legislation. Further, Health Canada also sought feedback on a host of other regulatory issues, including public possession, product labeling, micro-class and nursery licensing, and COVID-19 measures.

The Cannabis Act requires that the Minister of Health cause a review of the Act and its administration and operation three years after its coming into force. The Minister will table a report in both Houses of Parliament no later than 18 months after the start of the review. To fulfill these requirements, the Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions announced an independent Expert Panel to lead the legislative review, and provide independent, expert advice to both Ministers on progress made towards achieving the Act's objectives and will help identify priority areas for improving the functioning of the legislation. From December 2022 to June 2023, the Expert Panel sought feedback from the public on their views about the impacts of the Cannabis Act, and sought the public’s perspective on the engagement paper regarding the legalization of cannabis in Canada. A report on the feedback received by the Expert Panel was published by Health Canada in October 2023. The Expert Panel is preparing a report for the Ministers, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament in March 2024 with the Expert Panel’s advice and recommendations.

In March 2023, Health Canada issued a separate notice of intent and engaged in consultations with stakeholders between March 2023 and May 2023 regarding potential amendments to the Cannabis Regulations for regulatory burden reduction. The targeted areas of review include (1) licensing, (2) personnel and physical security measures, (3) production requirements, (4) packaging and labelling requirements, and (5) record keeping and reporting requirements.

Pending results of the aforementioned consultations and review, it is possible that Health Canada may introduce legislative updates in the near future.

In February 2024, the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance released a report outlining several recommendations regarding the country's regulated adult-use cannabis industry including a unanimous recommendation to make adjustment to the excise duty formula for cannabis so that it is limited to a 10% ad valorem rate, and the operation of the duty, including the requirement to apply an excise stamp on cannabis products.

Provincial and Territorial Regulatory Framework for Recreational Cannabis

While the Cannabis Act provides for the regulation of the commercial production of cannabis and related matters by the federal government, the Cannabis Act provides the provinces and territories of Canada with authority to adopt their own laws governing the distribution, sale and consumption of cannabis and cannabis accessory products within the province or territory, permitting for example, provincial and territorial governments to set lower possession limits for individuals and higher age requirements. Currently, each of the Canadian provincial and territorial jurisdictions has established the minimum age for cannabis use to be 19 years old, except for Québec and Alberta, where the minimum age is 21 and 18, respectively.

The provinces and territories are responsible for the establishment of a retail distribution system for adult use cannabis in their respective jurisdictions. All Canadian provinces and territories have implemented mechanisms for the distribution and sale of cannabis for recreational purposes within those jurisdictions, and retail models vary between jurisdictions. Provincial/territorial bodies act as intermediaries between entities licensed federally under the Cannabis Act and consumers, such bodies acting in some jurisdictions as exclusive cannabis wholesalers and distributors, and in some instances such bodies acting as exclusive retailers. The laws continue to evolve, and differences in provincial and territorial regulatory frameworks could result in, among other things, increased compliance costs, and increased supply costs.

Municipal and regional governments may choose to impose additional requirements and regulations on the sale of recreational cannabis, adding further uncertainty and risk to our business. Municipal by-laws may restrict the number of recreational cannabis retail outlets that are permitted in a certain geographical area or restrict the geographical locations wherein such retail outlets may be opened.

There is no assurance that the provincial, territorial, regional, and municipal regulatory frameworks and distribution models will remain unchanged, or that we will be able to navigate such changes in the regulatory frameworks and distribution models or conduct its intended business thereunder. See: “Risk Factors”.

Ontario: Pursuant to the Cannabis Control Act, 2017 (Ontario), the distribution and retail sale of recreational cannabis is currently conducted through the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation (“OCRC”), a subsidiary of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Recreational cannabis has been sold on-line through the OCRC-operated Ontario Cannabis Store (“OCS”) platform, as of October 17, 2018.

On October 17, 2018, the Cannabis License Act, 2018 (Ontario) became law and other legislation, including the Cannabis Control Act, 2017, the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation Act, 2017 and the Liquor Control Act were amended to create a private retail framework for the sale of recreational cannabis in Ontario. As of April 1, 2019, recreational cannabis has been available for sale by private retailers that operate brick-and-mortar stores licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (“AGCO”).

The recreational cannabis retail regulatory regime in Ontario has the following requirements and features:

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Private retailers are required to obtain both a retail operator license and a retail store authorization. Retail store authorizations are only to be issued to persons holding a retail operator license. Separate retail store authorizations are to be required for each cannabis retail store, but a licensed retail operator may hold more than one retail store authorization and operate multiple stores. In 2023, Ontario amended the regulations under the Cannabis License Act, 2018 to increase the number of licenses a licensed retail operator and its affiliates may hold from 75 to 150 licenses. Private retailers are not permitted to sell cannabis online but may only sell cannabis in person at an authorized retail store.

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The AGCO is the government entity responsible for issuing retail store authorizations for privately run recreational cannabis stores. Until December 13, 2019, a temporary cap of 25 retail store authorizations was imposed while cannabis supply stabilizes. On July 3, 2019, the Government of Ontario announced its plans for a second allocation of 50 additional cannabis retail store authorizations. The AGCO held a lottery draw for the allocation of 42 retail store authorizations. A separate process governed the allocation of eight retail store authorizations for those who wish to operate a store on a First Nations reserve. On March 2, 2020, the restrictions on the total number of store authorizations permitted in Ontario, and their regional distribution, was revoked. The AGCO now accepts applications for retail store authorizations from all interested applicants.

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Retail store operators are only permitted to purchase cannabis from the OCRC, which may set a minimum price for cannabis or classes of cannabis.

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Every authorized cannabis retail store in Ontario must have a licensed retail manager. An individual who supervises employees, oversees cannabis sales, manages compliance or has signing authority to purchase cannabis, enters into contracts or hires employees is required to have a cannabis retail manager license.

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Federal License Holders (and their affiliates) are limited to operating one retail cannabis store in the province, which must be located at the site listed on such producer’s federal license. A corporation is not eligible to obtain a retail operator license if more than 25% of the corporation is owned or controlled by federal License Holder(s) or its affiliates or the corporation owns or controls more than 25% of a federal License Holder or its affiliates. A broad definition of affiliate is included in the regulations. An affiliate relationship exists if a corporation beneficially owns or controls voting shares, or securities that may be converted to voting shares, constituting more than 25% of voting rights. If a person, or group acting together, holds 50% voting control for the election of directors or market share of the corporation, they are considered affiliates. Additionally, an affiliate relationship may be established through involvement in a trust, partnership, or joint venture, among others. The definition of affiliate may have the effect of restricting the ability of federal License Holders from effectively entering into the consumer retail market in Ontario.

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Federal License Holders are prohibited from providing any material inducement to cannabis retailers for the purpose of increasing the sale of a particular type of cannabis.

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Municipalities and reserve band councils were permitted to opt out of the retail cannabis market by resolution. Municipalities had until January 22, 2019 to pass such by-laws, and several municipalities have formally opted-out of the retail market. Municipalities that opted out can later lift the prohibition on retail cannabis stores by subsequent resolution, which cannot be reversed at a later date. Municipalities may not pass bylaws providing for a further system of licensing over the retail sale of cannabis.

Manitoba: The Government of Manitoba has implemented a ‘‘hybrid model’’ for cannabis distribution, whereby supply is secured and tracked by the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corp. (“MLLC”); however, licensed private retail stores are also permitted to sell recreational cannabis.

Alberta: The Government of Alberta has implemented a cannabis framework providing for the purchase of cannabis products from private retailers that receive their products from a government-regulated distributor, the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (“AGLC”), similar to the distribution system currently in place for alcohol in the province. Authorized cannabis retailers can sell cannabis in licensed retail outlets online.

New Brunswick: New Brunswick had initially limited the distribution and sale of recreational cannabis to a network of tightly controlled, stand-alone “Cannabis NB” stores managed by the Cannabis Management Corporation, a subsidiary of New Brunswick Liquor Corporation and online through the Cannabis NB platform, but has since opened up its retail market to permit licensed private retailers in the province. Approved licensed New Brunswick cannabis producers are not permitted to sell products that they grow and produced locally at their facilities, and private companies may enter into agreements with Cannabis NB to operate cannabis stores under private brands.

Quebec: All recreational cannabis is managed and sold by Société Québécoise du cannabis (the “SQDC”) outlets and is available for sale online. The entire process is controlled by the SQDC.

Newfoundland and Labrador: Recreational cannabis is sold through private stores, with the crown-owned liquor corporation, the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corp. (the “NLC”), issuing private retailer licenses and overseeing the distribution to private sellers who may sell to consumers. The NLC also controls the possession, sale, and delivery of cannabis, and sets prices. The NLC is also an online retailer, although licenses may later be issued to private interests.

Yukon: Yukon had initially limited the distribution and sale of recreational cannabis to government outlets and government-run online stores but has since opened up its retail market to permit licensed private retailers in the territory. Cannabis retail licenses are issued by the Cannabis Licensing Board. Authorized retailers must purchase cannabis from the Yukon Liquor Corporation, acting as the wholesaler and distributor in the territory.

Northwest Territories: The Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission (the “NTLCC”) controls the importation and distribution of cannabis, whether through NTLCC-approved retail outlets or online retail run by the NTLCC. Communities in the Northwest Territories are able to hold a plebiscite to prohibit cannabis, similar to the options currently available to restrict alcohol.

British Columbia: Recreational cannabis is sold through both public and licensed privately operated stores, with the provincial Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch handling licensing of private stores and the British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch (“BCLDB”) handling wholesale distribution.

Saskatchewan: The Government of Saskatchewan implemented a framework in which both wholesale and retail recreational cannabis are conducted by the private sector and regulated by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (“SLGA”). A number of retail permits have been issued to private stores. Permitted wholesalers can sell to permitted retailers and other permitted wholesalers but not to the general public. Wholesale operations must be physically located within Saskatchewan and products can only be sold and distributed within Saskatchewan. Further, only federally licensed producers registered with SLGA will be allowed to sell into the Saskatchewan market.

Nova Scotia: The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation is responsible for the regulation of cannabis in the province, and recreational cannabis is only sold publicly through government-operated storefronts and online sales.

Prince Edward Island: Similar to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island requires cannabis to be sold publicly, through government stores and online, overseen by the Prince Edward Island Cannabis Management Corporation.

Nunavut: Nunavut allows for the sale of cannabis through both public and private retail and online. In Nunavut, a person can submit an application with the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission for a license to operate a cannabis store, remote sales store, or cannabis lounge.

Industrial Hemp

The new Industrial Hemp Regulations under the Cannabis Act replaced the previous IHR under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (“CDSA”) as of October 17, 2018. The regulatory scheme for industrial hemp production largely remains the same, however the IHR permits the sale of hemp plants to licensed cannabis producers, and licensing requirements under the new IHR are softened in accordance with the lower risk posed by industrial hemp. The IHR defines industrial hemp as a cannabis plant, or any part of that plant, in which the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”) is 0.3% or less in the flowering heads and leaves.

Our U.S. Cannabis Segment

Our U.S. Cannabis segment is Balanced Health Botanicals, LLC ("BHB").

Balanced Health

On August 16, 2021, we acquired 100% interest in privately held Colorado-based BHB. BHB is one of the leading CBD and other cannabinoid brands and e-commerce platforms in the United States. BHB develops and sells high-quality cannabinoid-based health and wellness products, distributing its diverse portfolio of consumer products through retail storefronts and its top-ranked e-commerce platform, CBDistillery TM and independent retail stores. We believe that BHB is uniquely positioned to ensure seamless sourcing, manufacture and sale of its affordable, high-quality family of cannabinoid brands to target the diverse health and wellness needs and preferences of their consumers. We believe the strong management team of BHB has added a wealth of leadership and industry experience across healthcare, technology, consumer packaged goods and cannabis.

BHB is focused on high quality standards and sources non-GMO and pesticide free hemp directly from U.S. Hemp Licensed farms through partnerships and contractual relationships. BHB collaborates with hemp extraction partners using advanced proprietary methods and rigorous testing to ensure product quality and concentration guidelines. In its 8,000 square foot facility, BHB provides on-site bottling, labeling and packaging that follow the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice (“cGMP”) guidelines, and is NSF GMP certified. BHB was awarded U.S. Hemp Authority Certification for its commitment to quality and safety of its products and also achieved Generally Recognized as Safe designation, an evaluation its products are recognized as safe for consumption for CBD Isolate (“ISO”), Full-Spectrum CBD (“FSO”) and Broad-Spectrum CBD (“BSO”). In the event that the FDA regulates CBD, and the overall Food, Drug and Mass Merchandise (“FDM”) channel accepts ingestible CBD products, we believe that BHB is uniquely positioned to immediately capitalize on the opportunity.

BHB’s CBD and other cannabinoid product portfolio primarily includes oils, ingestibles and topicals to meet any consumer’s needs and consumption preferences. The majority of sales are within the United States. BHB operates an industry-leading e-commerce platform with an extensive customer base and has a presence in over 4,000 retail locations across health and wellness, independent pharmacies, convenience stores and lifestyle shops. Distribution in larger-footprint food, drug and mass retail chains is currently limited due to the lack of definitive regulatory oversight for CBD products throughout the United States.

During 2023, BHB became the first CBD Brand to advertise on X (formally Twitter) in the U.S.

United States Cannabis Industry and Regulatory Overview

We do not maintain any direct or indirect investment in cannabis or cannabis-related products in our U.S. operations, excluding BHB's CBD and other cannabinoid business. We participate in federal and state permissible activities in the U.S. and do not engage or intend to engage in direct or indirect business with any business that derives revenue, directly or indirectly, from the sale of cannabis or cannabis-related products in any jurisdiction where the production and sale of cannabis is unlawful under current applicable laws.

We own four and operate three greenhouse facilities in west Texas consisting of nearly six million square feet of produce production area in which we grow and distribute produce (primarily tomatoes). We have proven experience converting our produce greenhouses to low-cost, highly efficient cannabis greenhouses, as evidenced by Pure Sunfarms’ Delta 3 and Delta 2 greenhouses located in British Columbia. We are strategically positioned, utilizing decades of agricultural experience coupled with Pure Sunfarms’ operational and product expertise, to convert all or a part of our existing greenhouses when legally permitted to do so.

At the time of this filing, we believe that 41 states plus Washington, D.C. legally permit cannabis (in some form) for medicinal use and 25 states plus Washington, D.C. legally permit cannabis for recreational use. Public support for the adult-use legalization of cannabis has increased significantly across the country. Several hundred thousand Americans now work full-time in the cannabis industry and tax revenues associated with the production and sale of cannabis are providing economic benefits in states that have passed legislation.

Unlike in Canada, which has uniform federal legislation governing the cultivation, distribution, sale, and possession of cannabis under the Cannabis Act, in the United States, cannabis is regulated at both the federal and state levels. Notwithstanding the permissive regulatory environment of cannabis in some states, cannabis with a delta-9 THC level of more than 0.3% by dry weight (“marijuana”) continues to be categorized as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act ("CSA"), making it illegal under federal law in the United States to cultivate, distribute, or possess cannabis. This means that while state law in certain U.S. states may take a permissive approach to medical and/or recreational use of cannabis, the CSA may still be enforced by U.S. federal law enforcement officials against citizens and businesses of those states for activity that is legal under state law. As a result of the conflicting views between state legislatures and the U.S. federal government regarding cannabis, investments in cannabis businesses in the United States are subject to inconsistent legislation and regulation.

Until 2018, the federal government provided guidance to federal agencies and banking institutions through a series of United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) memoranda. The most notable of this guidance came in the form of a memorandum issued by former U.S. Deputy Attorney General James Cole on August 29, 2013 (the “Cole Memorandum”). The Cole Memorandum offered guidance to federal agencies on how to prioritize civil enforcement, criminal investigations, and prosecutions regarding marijuana in all states and quickly set a compliance standard for marijuana related businesses. The Cole Memorandum concluded that the Department of Justice should be focused on addressing only the most significant threats related to cannabis. States where medical cannabis had been legalized were not characterized as a high priority. The Cole Memorandum was rescinded by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in January 2018 and instructed that "[i]n deciding which marijuana activities to prosecute with the [DOJ's] finite resources, prosecutors should follow the well-established principles that govern all federal prosecutions." Namely, these include the seriousness of the offense, history of criminal activity, deterrent effect of prosecutions, the interests of victims, and other principles. Despite the Cole Memorandum's decision, the DOJ guidance on how to prioritize civil enforcement, criminal investigations, and prosecutions regarding marijuana related business appeared to be relatively unchanged.

In February, 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland testified to Congress that the DOJ would not pursue cases against Americans complying with laws of the states that have legalized and are regulating marijuana. Such statements are not official declarations or policies of the DOJ and are not binding on the DOJ, any United States Attorney, or the United States federal courts. However, in October of 2022, the Biden Administration announced a mass pardon of persons who had been convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law and also its intention to review the regulation of marijuana under the CSA by directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to initiate the administrative process to expeditiously review marijuana’s Schedule I status. In December 2022, President Biden signed the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act into law, which provides for significantly broader opportunities to study cannabis. In March 2023, Attorney General Merrick Garland stated during a senate hearing that “I think that it’s fair to expect what I said at my confirmation hearing with respect to marijuana and policy, that it will be very close to what was done in the Cole Memorandum”. In August 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and Health and Human Services (“HHS”) recommended that the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) reschedule marijuana from schedule I under the federal Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”) to schedule III. By doing so, FDA determined that marijuana not only no longer meets schedule I criteria, but by leapfrogging to schedule III, concluded that it does not meet schedule II criteria either. Now it is up to the DEA to either follow the HHS recommendation, which is typical or to leave cannabis on Schedule I. We anticipate a DEA decision is due at any time. To date, there have been no new federal marijuana memorandums issued by the DOJ or any published change in federal enforcement policy and substantial uncertainty regarding United States federal enforcement remains.

In recent years, certain temporary federal legislative enactments that provide safeguards for the medical cannabis industry have been appended to the federal budget bill. For each year since 2015, Congress has adopted a so-called “rider” provision to the Consolidated Appropriations Acts (formerly referred to as the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment and currently referred to as the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment) to prevent the federal government from using congressionally appropriated funds to enforce federal law against regulated medical cannabis actors operating in compliance with state and local law. On December 29, 2022, the amendment was renewed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Acts of 2023, H.R. 2617, which is effective through September 30, 2023. While the amendment has been included in successive appropriations legislation or resolutions since 2015, its inclusion or non-inclusion is subject to political change.

Nonetheless, there is no guarantee that state laws legalizing and regulating the sale and use of marijuana will not be repealed or overturned, or that local governmental authorities will not limit the applicability of state laws within their respective jurisdictions. Until the United States Congress amends the CSA with respect to marijuana, there is a risk that federal authorities may enforce current U.S. federal law.

On December 20, 2018, the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law in the United States. The 2018 Farm Bill, among other things, defines industrial hemp, removes industrial hemp and cannabinoids derived from industrial hemp so long as the delta-9 THC concentration is less than 0.3% by dry weight, from the CSA and allows for industrial hemp production and sale in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has retained authority over the addition of CBD and other cannabinoids to products that fall within the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (''FDCA"). To date, the FDA deems that it is currently illegal to add CBD to a food or beverage, and the FDA does not deem CBD a dietary supplement as the agency cannot conclude that CBD is "generally recognized as safe" among qualified experts for its use in human or animal food. In January 2023, the FDA publicly announced it had concluded that "a new regulatory pathway for CBD is needed that balances individuals' desire for access to CBD products with the regulatory oversight needed to manage risks" and that it was "prepared to work with Congress on this matter." There can be no assurance that the FDA will approve CBD as an additive to products under the FDCA.

Under current federal law, it may be a violation of federal anti-money laundering statutes to take any proceeds from the sale of any Schedule I controlled substance. Financial institutions could potentially be prosecuted and convicted of money laundering under the Bank Secrecy Act for providing services to cannabis businesses. In 2014, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FinCEN") issued guidance not to focus enforcement on financial institutions that serve cannabis-related business, as long as the business activities are legal in their state. The guidance also included burdensome due diligence expectations and reporting requirements for financial institutions to bank state-sanctioned cannabis businesses. The FinCEN guidance also does not provide any safe harbors or legal defenses from examination or regulatory or criminal enforcement actions by the DOJ, FinCEN or other federal regulators for banks and other financial institutions and can be amended or revoked at any time and therefore most financial institutions in the United States do not appear comfortable relying on this guidance to provide banking services to the cannabis industry. Thus, most legitimate cannabis-related companies have established relationships with state banks and financial institutions. Also, since these legitimate cannabis firms do not have access to traditional bank financing, they primarily rely on private capital to address their financing needs.

The SAFE Banking Act passed the House of Representatives in September 2019 but has yet to pass the Senate. In September 2021, the House of Representatives included the SAFE Banking Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2022, but the SAFE Banking Act was removed from the Defense Spending Bill by a Senate conference committee in December of 2021. The House of Representatives also passed the SAFE Banking Act most recently on February 4, 2022, as an amendment to the America COMPETES Act, but failed to pass in the Senate. The SAFE Banking Act is designed to prohibit federal banking regulators from punishing financial institutions from providing services to legitimate cannabis companies, their owners, and employees. In particular, a federal banking regulator cannot terminate or limit deposit insurance, prohibit or penalize a financial institution from providing services to legitimate cannabis-related business or take any adverse or corrective action on a loan made to a legitimate cannabis-related business.

In September, 2023, the Secure And Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act, or the SAFER Banking Act, was introduced to the U.S. Senate. The SAFER Banking Act is designed to provide protections for federally regulated financial institutions that serve state-sanctioned marijuana businesses. Under this bill:

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a federal banking regulator is prohibited from penalizing a depository institution for providing banking services to a state-sanctioned marijuana business.

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a federal banking regulator is prohibited from requesting or requiring a depository institution to terminate a deposit account unless

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(1) there is a valid reason, such as the regulator has cause to believe that the depository institution is engaging in an unsafe or unsound practice; and

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(2) reputational risk is not the dispositive factor.

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proceeds from a transaction conducted by a state-sanctioned marijuana business are no longer considered proceeds from unlawful activity.

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and, a financial institution, insurer, or federal agency may not be held liable or subject to asset forfeiture under federal law for providing a loan, mortgage, or other financial service to a state-sanctioned marijuana business.

Since we do not conduct any cannabis-related business in the United States aside from our BHB cannabinoid products, the SAFE Banking Act and SAFER Banking Act would not alter the current financial services landscape for Village Farms. However, the ability to access public capital for all legitimate cannabis-related companies could provide the industry with additional financing avenues not available today as well as reducing the overall cost of capital.

Texas Cannabis Industry and Regulatory Overview

The 2021 legislative session was largely focused on addressing the catastrophic freeze and failures of the Texas energy supply, a modest expansion to the medical cannabis program, the Texas Compassionate Use Program (“TCUP”), did pass. TCUP provides low-THC cannabis to registered patients who have a prescription from their physician. This legislation added post-traumatic stress disorder, any form of cancer, and any condition that is part of a medical cannabis research program to the list of conditions which qualify patients for TCUP. The legislation also raised the overall THC by weight cap from 0.5% to 1.0%. Since the law went into effect on September 1, 2021 through the period ending January 31, 2023, the patient count has risen by more than 450% from approximately 8,200 to just over 45,400 patients and the participating physician count has risen by 67% to just over 680.

On January 17, 2023, Texas announced it will open TCUP for more applications with the expectation that it will issue new medicinal licenses in 2023. The Company has applied for one of the TCUP licenses. As of the date of this filing, the TCUP applications have not yet been reviewed by the State of Texas and there has not been any indication if or when the applications will be reviewed or if our TCUP license will be approved.

Our Fresh Produce Segment

We commenced produce operations in 1989 and maintain produce operations under both our U.S. subsidiary, Village Farms L.P., and our Canadian subsidiary, Village Farms Canada Limited Partnership. We own four greenhouse facilities in west Texas totaling 130 acres, with three currently cultivating produce, and one produce greenhouse in Delta, B.C. totaling 60 acres. All of our facilities grew tomatoes in 2023. We also represent third party growers (based in Canada and Mexico) on a sales commission basis, which represents approximately 41% of our 2023 total produce revenues.

Approximately 84% of our total 2023 produce sales were tomatoes, 8% were peppers, 6% were cucumbers and 2% were mini-cukes, as compared to total 2022 produce sales which was comprised of 82% tomatoes, 11% peppers, 5% cucumbers and 2% mini-cukes. We sell produce predominantly to retailers in the United States and Canada.

In 2023, 2022 and 2021, approximately 89%, 82% and 84% of our produce sales were in the United States, respectively, with the top two customers comprising 22% of produce sales in 2023, 21% of produce sales in 2022 and 22% in 2021. Retail direct sales were approximately 68%, 70% and 69% of total produce sales for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, with the balance to wholesale customers who service small retailers or other markets such as food service.

There is seasonality in produce revenues. Production is lower in the winter months, compared to the summer months, due to lower light levels in the winter months and our Delta, B.C. greenhouse, due to its northern latitude, does not produce tomatoes in the winter months. Historically, we have higher sales in our second and third quarters and lower sales, due to lower volumes, in the first and fourth quarters.

The produce business is very competitive, and our primary competition consists of large commercial producers. There is an abundance of growers as discussed in the Greenhouse Vegetable Industry Overview, which has resulted in an oversupplied market where retail customers have the upper hand in price negotiations. In addition, due to the perishable nature of produce, pricing is very sensitive to the daily demand versus supply in each produce category, including our primary category, tomatoes. We try to combat the commoditization of the tomato category by offering unique tomatoes such as the Heavenly Villagio Marzano® and Sinfully Sweet Campari® as a means of distinguishing Village Farms to our retail customers but the large tomato varieties such as tomatoes on the vine (“TOVs”) and beefsteak are still a predominant part of our produce business and industry sales. Our produce business has limited trademark or brand loyalty.

Greenhouse Vegetable Industry Overview

(A)The North American Industry

The greenhouse vegetable industry in North America has experienced expanded development over the past 20 years, particularly in the western regions of the United States, southwest British Columbia and southern Ontario in Canada, and concentrated areas in Mexico. Mexico is the largest producer of greenhouse tomatoes followed by Canada and the United States.

(B)Greenhouse Industry — United States

The majority of greenhouse vegetable producers in the United States are located in the southwestern and western states, where the growing conditions are more ideal for winter growing operations and the possibility of year-round production. New greenhouse facilities have recently been completed and planned in the northern U.S. to be closer to major population centers. These facilities have lights to allow for production in the winter months. Producing in the winter months is advantageous as produce prices are generally higher, although with increasing Mexican production (which produce in the winter months), seasonal pricing fluctuations are gradually decreasing. The majority of greenhouse tomatoes produced in the United States are used for domestic consumption, and producers in the United States benefit from high yields, consistent product quality, year-round supply, and closer proximity to their customers. In order to meet domestic demand, the United States imports a significant portion of its supply of greenhouse tomatoes from Canada and Mexico.

In addition, many U.S. growers of labor-intensive crops rely on immigrant workers from countries such as Mexico. The demand for farm labor in the U.S. continues to grow while the labor supply remains constant or slightly decreasing, leading to rising wages and benefits. U.S. employers may utilize H-2A workers to assist in fulfilling their labor needs. Section 218 of the Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes the lawful admission into the United States of temporary, nonimmigrant workers (H-2A workers) to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature for up to ten months over a twelve-month period. The H-2A worker adds additional costs to the greenhouse grower as the H-2A program set a Texas state-level minimum prevailing wage of $14.87 in 2023 and $15.55 effective January 1, 2024. Additionally, growers must pay for worker expenses, such as transportation costs and housing.

(C)Greenhouse Industry — Canada

Among the North American greenhouse vegetable producers, Canada is the largest supplier from April to October. Several factors, including climatic advantages (cooler summer temperatures) and the proximity of greenhouse producers to consumer markets, contribute to Canada’s favorable positioning relative to the United States during that time period. The primary markets for greenhouse produce grown in British Columbia include the west and northwest regions of the United States, as well as western Canada, while the primary markets for Ontario produce include the east and central regions of the United States, as well as eastern Canada.

The strengths of the Canadian greenhouse vegetable industry include its high yields and consistent product quality. The main weakness of the Canadian greenhouse industry relates to its lack of production during the historically higher priced winter months. However, because of the high volume of tomatoes produced in Canada during the April to October growing season, profits generated during this time period generally are sufficient to sustain producers through the full year.

(D)Greenhouse Industry — Mexico

Although Mexico was the last country to enter the greenhouse tomato industry in North America, it has more greenhouse tomato acreage than the United States and Canada combined. It should be noted there is no formal definition of a “greenhouse” and a significant portion of the greenhouse acreage in Mexico is very low-tech, shade field structures. The product from the shade facilities is in some instances marketed as greenhouse-grown, which until the recent update on the Suspension Agreement between the United States and Mexico, was not in violation of any regulations, but for the State of California, which has a strict definition of greenhouse-grown for produce sold within the state. Average yields and product quality in Mexico are comparatively low, as compared to U.S. and Canadian greenhouse operations. Currently, Mexican producers tend to grow a majority of their production during the fall, winter, and spring seasons as they have sufficient light levels to grow and cooler temperatures during these months, although the trend towards more sophisticated greenhouses is permitting a longer growing season as well as increased yields.

Over the last several years, the greenhouse industry in Mexico has continued to make significant advances with respect to its growing expertise and ability to extend its growing season, which continues to put pressure on produce pricing. Mexican growers are continuing to invest in greenhouses and other technology to improve production and yields. As the greenhouse industry is a labor-intensive business, the labor costs are a significant portion of production costs. Mexico has a considerable wage advantage versus the U.S. due primarily to the lower cost of living in Mexico. The U.S. Federal minimum wage has remained constant since 2009 at US$7.25 per hour; the Texas prevailing hourly wage for H-2A workers was $14.87 in 2023. Mexico’s minimum wage for 2023 was $207.44 Mexican pesos a day or approximately US$10.95 per day and increased to $248.93 Mexican pesos a day (plus $25 Mexican pesos a day for Social Security) or approximately US$16.40 per day on January 1, 2024.

Pricing

Prices for vegetables fluctuate depending upon availability of supply and consumer demand. Greenhouse vegetable producers typically command a higher price for their products compared to field producers, as a result of the vegetables’ consistent quality, taste, appearance, and year-round availability. This higher price, combined with higher production yields for greenhouse produce, typically offset the higher costs associated with greenhouse production relative to field production. Production costs for greenhouse-grown produce are generally higher due to greater energy, labor, infrastructure, technological requirements, and more intense crop yields per acre. As the fresh produce market share of big box retailers increases, pricing is moving towards more contract pricing for six, nine or even twelve-month periods reducing some of the fluctuations with traditional seasonal pricing. However, contract pricing does not provide volume guarantees.

Intellectual Property

We have registered many trademarks and service marks in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The following is a list of the key trademarks and service marks Village Farms has registered for our produce: Village Farms Logo®, BC Grown Logo®, A Revolution in Flavor®, Baby Beefs®, Blissfully Bright®, Cabernet Estate Reserve®, Cheeky Sweets®, Cherry No.9®, Cherry No.9 Fall in Love Again®, Cosmic Beefsteak TM , Delectable TOV®, Exquisite Heirloom®, Fall in Love Again®, From Our House To Your Home®, Garden Fresh Flavor®, Good for the Earth®, Good For, All TM, Good Day Sunshine TM, Heavenly Villagio Marzano®, Home Choice®, Hydroperfect®, Hydroperfect Campari®, It Takes a Village®, Juicy Beefsteak®, Lip Smackin’ Grapes®, Lorabella Blossom®, Maverick Mix®, Mini Sensations®, No.9®, Savory Roma®, Scrumptious Mini®, Sensational Sara®, Sinfully Sweet®, Sinfully Sweet Campari®, Sweet Bells®, Ture Rebel Mix®, Village Farms® , Village Fields®, Villagio Chef’s Pack® , Villagio Magic Mix® , Villagio Marzano® and Where Freshness is Always in Season®.

We also have the following trademarks registered for Pure Sunfarms in Canada: Pure Sunfarms TM, Pure Sunfarms BC Grown TM, Pure Sun CBDTM, Everyday Premium TM, Farm to Flower TM, Hit The Gas TM, No Sun No Flower TM, Plants and People First TM, Pure Provisions TM, Rise with the Sun TM, Sundaises TM, Soar TM, Soar Cannabis TM , The Bakery TM, Purple Sun God TM, The Original Fraser Valley Weed Co. TM, Super Toast TM and Nowadays TM.

We have the following trademarks registered and service marks in the United States, Canada, Europe and/or Costa Rica for Balanced Health: Balanced Health Botanicals®, BOTA®, BOTA Hemp®, CBDefine®, CBDistillery TM, CBDistileryRX®, CBDOL®, CBDMovement TM, Gimmick-free CBD®, Natural Beauty-Elevated TM, Terpsolate®.

We also have the following trademarks registered for Rose LifeScience in Canada: Rose TM, Rose LifeScience TM, Rose LifeScienceVie TM, DLYSTM, Elekt TM, Promenade TM, Pure Laine TM, Six Lunes TM, Homage TM, Tam Tams TM.

Employees

We have approximately 1,400 employees and contract workers throughout all of our segments: Village Farms Fresh, Pure Sunfarms, Rose LifeScience, Balanced Health Botanicals and VF Clean Energy. The majority of our employees and contract workers are employed in our produce and cannabis greenhouse operations. None of our employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We believe that we enjoy a good working relationship with our employees.

Human Capital

We respect diversity and accordingly are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. Our management team is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs, and general treatment during employment. We are proud to bring together individuals from a wide breadth of industries, backgrounds, and experiences, and promote a culture of belonging. Additionally, we respect the religious beliefs and practices of all employees and will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation if those religious beliefs or practices conflict with an employee’s job unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.

Paid vacation time is available for all employees in accordance with our Paid Time Off (“PTO”) Policy. In addition to good working conditions and competitive pay, it is our policy to provide a combination of supplemental benefits to all eligible employees. In keeping with this goal, each benefit program has been carefully devised. We provide all full-time employees with life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (“AD&D”) insurance. Eligible full-time U.S. employees may participate in the Company’s 401(k) savings plan beginning ninety days after the date of hire. Currently, we match a portion of eligible employee contributions.

In Texas, we opted out of the state-run workers’ compensation insurance program. We are self-insured and utilize private insurance to provide benefits to employees in the event of a work-related injury or occupational disease in lieu of workers’ compensation insurance. All employees outside of Texas are covered under our Workers’ Compensation policy, which also covers accidental injuries or illness which occur during working hours or conditions caused by work activities. Both our private insurance and workers’ compensation are paid by us. The private insurer provides for the payment of medical expenses and weekly compensation payments during the period of an employee's work-related injury or illness, and we reimburse the private insurer in whole. In addition, we maintain stop gap coverage with their private insurance carrier to prevent the liability of a significant claim. We have a long-standing philosophy of taking pride in our practices to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of our employees. To ensure a safe and healthy workplace environment, we have established a program that serves to outline our commitment to this philosophy and we provide guidance to all employees on the standards for compliance.

In Canada, Village Farms, Pure Sunfarms and Rose Life Sciences offer competitive extended health care and dental benefits which include an additional health spending account, a sponsored group retirement savings plan and wellness days.

Social Responsibility

We have stood by our core "Good for the Earth" principles since our inception over 30 years ago. Since our inception, we are guided by a Sustainable Agriculture Policy, which integrates three main goals, environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equality. Greenhouse growing is the most environmentally sustainable method of farming due to its ability to preserve natural resources, such as reduced water usage while growing more on less land. In Controlled Environment Agriculture, soil erosion, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions are largely neutralized. In addition, our investments in the latest technological advancements, and our ability to produce higher yields per square meter, mean there are more GMO-free products grown with little impact to the environment.

Our greenhouses rely on, and have successfully employed, non-chemical methods for pest control known as Integrated Pest Management, whereas beneficial insects largely alleviate the need for pesticides. Our greenhouses utilize biodegradable coconut fiber or rockwool, not soil, to support the plants in a hydroponic solution, so there is no soil erosion or loss of precious nutrients. Pure Sunfarms’ greenhouses installed blackout curtains to reduce energy consumption, mitigate light pollution and protect ecosystems to minimize the impact to the greater Vancouver area. At all greenhouse facilities, we sterilize and recirculate water numerous times. In Texas, discharged water is used to irrigate an adjacent track of land where a local rancher is then able to graze cattle year-round. In Delta, B.C., Pure Sunfarms collects rainwater throughout the year to minimize the use of external water sources at one of its greenhouses. All the Company's Delta, B.C. greenhouses utilize renewable hydroelectricity as their main power source.

Rose LifeScience’s indoor controlled growing facility in Quebec was granted environmental rebates from the local government for its energy efficient design. The facility is digitally responsive as the growing rooms are equipped with technology that interprets and responds to the needs of the growers and the plants. The energy-conscious building design helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the facility is outfitted with special filtration to reduce odors and minimize any impact to the local community.

BHB is focused on product quality and conducts internal and third-party quality testing across the supply chain and at all stages of the cannabinoid creation process to confirm the purity and concentration of its products. All hemp utilized by BHB is required to be non-GMO, pesticide free and is tested for compliance. BHB is one of thirteen companies awarded U.S. Hemp Authority

Certification for its commitment to quality and safety of its products and has also achieved Generally Recognized as Safe designation, an evaluation that its products are recognized as safe for consumption for full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and isolate CBD.

We have memberships in core industry associations such as the United Fresh Produce Association and the Produce Marketing Association, where leaders explore strategies and provide solutions to expand fresh produce consumption and strive to feed a growing world population. Pure Sunfarms is the founder of Cannabis Cultivators of B.C. dedicated to advocating for the growth of a responsible cannabis industry and advancing a favorable social, economic and business environment for cannabis cultivation in B.C. We continue to contribute and distribute fresh produce to help feed those in need, as well as champion volunteer efforts in national food banks, such as Feeding America and Conscious Alliance. Donation efforts to food banks and food pantries are also localized in all the regions where company offices and facilities are located. On a community level, local involvement in organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Wounded Warrior Fund, NAACP education fund, Rotary clubs, hospitals, and community art outreach activities, are just some of the diverse charitable contributions we support.

Corporate Information

Village Farms is a publicly traded company in the United States on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”), under the symbol “VFF”. VFF is a corporation existing under the Business Corporations Act(Ontario). Our headquarters are located at 4700-80th Street Delta, British Columbia, Canada V4K 3N3 (telephone: 604-940-6012).

VFF’s principal operating subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 are Village Farms Canada Limited Partnership (“VFCLP”), Village Farms, L.P. (“VFLP”), VF Clean Energy, Inc., Pure Sunfarms, BHB, and Rose. VFF also owns an 85% ownership in Leli, and a minority interest in Altum.

We file annual, quarterly, current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The SEC maintains an internet site that contains our public filings with the SEC and other information regarding Village Farms, atwww.sec.gov. We make available free of charge at our website, www.villagefarms.com, all of our reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K and should not be considered a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the reference to our website in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is an inactive textual reference only.

We are also a reporting issuer under the securities laws of each of the provinces and territories of Canada and accordingly our public filings with Canadian securities regulators are available under our issuer profile atwww.sedarplus.ca.