The cultivation cost in the first quarter of 2020 was higher than the fourth quarter of 2019 due to the incremental use and cost of power to run the operations, including supplemental lighting.
Pure Sunfarms’ selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was C$3,255 and C$1,329 (US$2,434 and US$999), respectively, an increase of 145%. The increase is primarily due to investments in retail sales, marketing and staffing.
Pure Sunfarms’ net income for three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 C$8,553 and C$5,854 (US$6,165 and US$4,403), respectively. Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 includes the recognition of C$6,044 (US$4,348) of forgiveness of debt income as an outcome of the March 2, 2020 Settlement Agreement between Pure Sunfarms, Emerald Health and the Company.
Pure Sunfarms’ Adjusted EDITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was C$6,726 compared to C$8,576 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase is primarily due to lower selling prices and higher selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
Produce
For the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019.
Sales for the three months ended March 31, 2020 increased $222, or 1%, to $32,112 compared to $31,890 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase in sales is primarily due to an increase in supply partner revenues of $2,257, partially offset by a decrease in our own production revenues of ($1,964). The decrease in our own production revenues is primarily due to a decrease of (18%) in our product volume. The decrease in our own production volume is primarily due to ongoing plant disease pressure at our Texas facilities.
Cost of sales for the three months ended March 31, 2020 increased $132 to $31,347 from $31,215 for the three months ended March 31, 2019, due to an increase in the 2020 contract sales cost of 4% versus 2019, partially offset by a decrease in freight expense and cost from the Texas facilities. The decrease in freight and cost from Texas facilities is due to a decrease in our own production volume, which is primarily due to ongoing plant disease pressure.
Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2020 increased by $272 to ($1,587) from ($1,859) for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase is primarily the result of a decrease in the Company’s cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative expenses.
Board of Directors Update
The Company also announced that Dr. Roberta Cook will not stand forre-election to the Village Farms’ board of directors at its 2020 annual general meeting on June 25, 2020.
“On behalf of the Company’s board of directors and management team, I would like to thank Roberta for her invaluable contribution to Village Farms throughout her tenure,” said Mr. DeGiglio. “Roberta has served Village Farms’ shareholders with dedication at the highest possible level. Her passion in fulfilling her duties as a board member is matched only by the breadth and depth of her knowledge as one of the foremost agricultural economists in the country. Roberta has been a tremendous supporter of our Company and I will personally miss her presence very much. I wish her the very best in her future.”
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