CRP Ceres Global Ag Corp

SunOpta Inc. ("SunOpta" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:STKL) (TSX:SOY), a leading global natural and organic foods company, today announced that following the Company's most recent Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders, Mr. Michael Detlefsen has been elected to the Board of Directors.

Mr. Detlefsen brings extensive global strategic, operating and transactional experience in the agrifoods industry to the SunOpta Board of Directors. Currently he is Co-Managing Director of Muir Detlefsen & Associates Limited, a strategic advisory firm, and President of Ceres Global Ag Corp (TSX:CRP), a holding company with a grain storage and supply chain division, and a commodity logistics division.

Jeremy Kendall, Chairman of the Board of SunOpta Inc., commented, "We are delighted to have Michael Detlefsen join our Board, bringing to SunOpta his extensive global supply chain agrifoods experience and his reputation for integrity and sound judgment. This appointment is consistent with our ongoing efforts to enhance our Board of Directors with qualified, independent candidates who can bring a wealth of related experience to our business."

From 1999 to 2007, Mr. Detlefsen was with Maple Leaf Foods Inc. He held the position of Vice President, Corporate Development from 1999 to 2000, Executive Vice President Vertical Coordination from 2000 to 2005 and President of Maple Leaf Global Foods, the global sales, marketing and trading subsidiary of Maple Leaf Foods Inc. from 2005 to 2007. Prior to joining Maple Leaf Foods, Mr. Detlefsen was with BCE Inc. in Montreal where he was Vice President, Corporate Development at Bell Canada International, from 1997 to 1999, responsible for telecom investments in Korea, Brazil, Mexico and the United Kingdom, and Vice President Strategy/Business Analysis/Mergers and Acquisitions at Bell Canada from 1996 to 1997.

Mr. Detlefsen's work experience also includes roles as: a strategy consultant for Monitor Company, a Boston-based strategy consulting firm, from 1993 to 1996; Director, Corporate Strategy at Air Canada in Montreal, New York and Houston from 1989 to 1993; a consultant for Price Waterhouse's Transportation Consulting Practice in Washington, D.C. from 1988 to 1989; and, a policy analyst for the Canadian Deputy Minister of Grains & Oilseeds in Ottawa, Canada from 1987 to 1988.

Mr. Detlefsen is currently a Director of the State Street Bank and Trust (Canada), a Governor of the Royal Ontario Museum, a member of the Investment Committee of the Ontario College of Art & Design Foundation Board, a member of Harvard University's Private and Public, Scientific, Academic and Consumer Food Policy Committee and a member of the Finance Committee and 150th Anniversary Campaign Cabinet of Trinity College School.  

About SunOpta Inc.

SunOpta Inc. is a leading global company focused on natural, organic and specialty foods products. The company specializes in sourcing, processing and packaging of natural and organic food products, integrated from seed through packaged products; with a focus on strategically vertically integrated business models. The Company's core natural and organic food operations focus on value-added grains, fiber and fruit based product offerings, supported by a global infrastructure. The company has two non-core holdings, a 66.1% ownership position in Opta Minerals Inc., listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, a producer, distributor, and recycler of environmentally friendly industrial materials; and a minority ownership position in Mascoma Corporation, an innovative biofuels company.

The SunOpta Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3958

CONTACT: SunOpta Inc.
         
         Susan Wiekenkamp, Information Officer
         Tel: 905-455-2528, ext. 103
         susan.wiekenkamp@sunopta.com
         Website: www.sunopta.com