News and Stories

"Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." -Vince Lombardi

We've talked about helping others and how people matter at Markon in other blog posts. We also recognize that we work in an industry that has the greatest potential to make a meaningful impact on our nation’s obesity epidemic, food deserts, and families living below poverty levels. As an industry, foodservice distributors in the United States service over 100,000 schools. We have the ability to make an impact. 

One of the many lessons I've learned through my involvement in the California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP) focuses on servant leadership: including setting an example and applying efforts where they can be most effective. My fellows and I have worked with feeding programs such as Loaves and Fishes in Sacramento, preparing and serving food to over 700 less-fortunate people in a single day. At an under-served high school in the Sacramento area, we helped revamp and build greenhouse facilities, garden boxes, animal enclosures, and an outdoor teaching structure to get students excited about and interested in agriculture—who knows, one of these students just might turn out to be the next great leader in our industry. Through that experience I learned that it's not imperative to be physically on the line passing out hot meals. I realized that I often have more impact when I apply my particular skills and help coordinate the group’s efforts. 

This past weekend Markon employees, their families, friends, and other citizens of the community joined with Ag Against Hunger to help kick off the gleaning season in the Salinas Valley. Markon has long partnered with Ag Against Hunger, a non-profit organization that specializes in coordinating the collection of surplus fruits and vegetables from growers in the Salinas Valley and distributing them to over 240 assistance programs located throughout the West Coast. This year was another success. 

At Markon we're constantly working together to utilize the skills of our entire group. In doing so, we are able to have a little fun and work together for a good cause at the same time. Win-win!