FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2014
Contact: Marilyn Dolan or Teresa Thorne
Phone: (831) 786-1668

Markon’s Tim York Becomes First Buyer to Join
Alliance for Food and Farming Management Board

Watsonville, CA – The Alliance for Food and Farming announced today Tim York, President of Markon Cooperative will be joining the organization’s Management Board.  It’s the first time a company which buys produce from grower-shippers has served as a member of the organization’s Board. The Alliance, which exists to deliver credible information to consumers about the safety of fruits and vegetables, is traditionally funded by conventional and organic farmers or by groups who represent farmers.

“We are really pleased that Tim will be joining our Board,” said Matt McInerney, Executive Vice President of Western Growers and the Alliance for Food and Farming’s current Board chairman. “Tim is a well-respected leader in the produce industry and is committed to providing safe and healthy fruits and vegetables to his customers. He is a welcome addition to the Alliance Board.”

The Alliance for Food and Farming’s current membership consists of approximately 50 associations, commodity boards and individual grower-shippers of fruits and vegetables from throughout the U.S. The organization’s goal is to provide science based, factual information to consumers about produce-related food safety issues, including those concerning pesticide residues and microbial foodborne illness. Alliance activities are funded by voluntary contributions from its members. Membership in the Alliance is available to farmers or companies who grow, sell, ship or market fruits and vegetables and to associations who represent these businesses.

Recently the Alliance for Food and Farming has become known for an initiative called Safe Fruits and Veggies, which has been successful in achieving greater balance in media coverage dealing with a report called the “dirty dozen list” issued each year by an activist group. The so-called “list”, which questions the safety of popular produce items and advises consumers to select organic options whenever possible, is not based on risk, nor is it peer-reviewed. To help correct the misinformation created by this list and address other misconceptions about produce safety, the Alliance has a website at www.safefruitsandveggies.com. This website serves as a resource for information about the safety of both conventional and organically-grown produce.

“I respect the Alliance for Food and Farming’s goal to communicate honestly about important issues which can impact consumer confidence in fruits and vegetables,” said York. “I also appreciate their desire to promote the safety of both organic and conventional produce. There is so much misinformation about pesticides on fruits and vegetables and too many people are using fear to market their products. The real goal of the produce industry should be to encourage increased consumption of all fruits and vegetables – not to scare people away from eating certain kinds of produce. I‘m really looking forward to working with the Alliance on this important cause.”

Salinas-based Markon Cooperative has eight broad line foodservice distribution member companies. Together they have been providing restaurants with fruits and vegetables from growers for over 25 years. In addition to being a founding employee and the current President of Markon, Tim York has held numerous committee and task force positions throughout the produce industry, including: Member, USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Council; Chairman of the Produce Marketing Association (2002); Director of the PMA; Chairman of PMA’s Foodservice Division; Chairman, Center for Produce Safety Advisory Board; and is a founding member of the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops.

To learn more about the Alliance for Food and Farming, please visit the organization’s membership website at www.foodandfarming.info.