Sustainable and Green Manufacturing Practices Earn F. Gavina & Sons, Inc. '2010 Food Processor Of The Year' Award from Food Industry Business Roundtable

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Further cementing its position as one of the greenest companies in Southern California, F. Gavina & Sons, Inc. (Gavina) has been named the "2010 Food Processor of the Year" by the Food Industry Business Roundtable (FIBR).  The award was presented at the 14th Annual Taste of FIBR Awards Dinner in Los Angeles to Leonor Gavina-Valls and Michael Gavina, respectively the daughter and grandson of Founder Don Francisco Gavina.      

"Gavina's commitment and tangible contributions on the sustainability front are not only a source of pride for us here in Southern California but also a perfect example for the food processing industry at-large of what can happen when vision turns into action," explained Dandy Don Whittemore, president of FIBR. "We look forward to continuing to work with Gavina and the entire FIBR community to brew even greater progress towards a sustainable and greener America."

The nominations were solicited from more than 1,800 food processing companies throughout Southern California and reviewed by a committee of FIBR board members. The winning nomination came from the City of Vernon's Environmental Health Department praising Gavina for its' extraordinary work in developing, implementing and promoting the principles of sustainability.  

"As a relatively small company with less than 800 employees, we are humbled by this recognition and thank the FIBR for their support and commitment to bringing sustainability to the forefront," said Vice President of Marketing Leonor Gavina-Valls.  "Gavina may be the largest privately-held and minority-owned roaster in the country but to my three siblings and me who continue to build on our father Don Francisco's four-generation legacy, we are just a tight-knit family with a whole lot of love and passion for coffee and the sustainability and wellness of the communities in which we work and live."    

A recognized corporate leader for its environmental health and energy conservation practices, Gavina's long-standing commitment to minimizing its products' carbon footprint, reducing waste, lowering energy costs, and industry-leading green manufacturing practices are as integral to its mission as is delivering the highest quality coffee in every cup.  In 2007, the City of Vernon recognized Gavina's newly inaugurated 240,000 square foot state-of-the-art roasting facility as the greenest factory in the city and awarded the makers of California's own Don Francisco's Coffee its prestigious Solid Waste Alternative Programs Award.  As further testament to its environmental vision in action, Gavina has reduced its waste output by more than 84 percent and plans to reach its goal of over 90 percent in the next few years.  In addition, Gavina is currently in the process of attaining LEED (The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. LEED certification is the most sought-after designation awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), setting the benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.  

About Food Industry Business Roundtable

The Food Industry Business Roundtable is a nonprofit business association dedicated to promoting the growth of the ethnic and specialty food processing industry in Southern California. FIBR accomplishes this mission by encouraging communication and cooperation among all segments of the industry; working with regulatory and economic development agencies; partnering with educational institutions to upgrade employee skills; building linkages between public and private sources of capital; and  keeping members informed about industry developments, market trends, trade policies and regulatory issues.

About F. Gavina & Sons, Inc.

Based in Vernon, California, F. Gavina & Sons, Inc. (Gavina) was founded in 1967 by Don Francisco Gavina.  The company has been a leading producer of high-quality and great-tasting premium coffee for more than four generations and is the nation's largest family- and minority-owned coffee roaster company. Gavina is still owned and run by Don Francisco's four children: Pedro (president), Jose (chief financial officer), Leonor (vice president of marketing), and Francisco (vice president of operations). To learn more about F. Gavina & Sons, Inc. and Don Francisco's Coffee, please visit www.gavina.com and www.donfranciscos.com

SOURCE F. Gavina & Sons, Inc.