**Exhibit 10.36****SEPARATION AGREEMENT**     1. Ben Beckham (“Employee”) is an employee of Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. (“Lifecore”), whohas separated from his employment with Lifecore.     2. Upon Employee’s execution of this Separation Agreement (“Agreement”), Lifecore will payEmployee his current base salary, less all customary withholding and deductions, for a period ofsix (6) months, commencing with the first pay period after the fifteen (15) day rescission periodhas elapsed.     3. Employee acknowledges that he has no further claim to any other items of compensation orbenefits not specifically described in paragraph 2. Employee further acknowledges that he was nototherwise entitled to the payments described in paragraph 2, and that they are being provided inexchange for his execution of this Agreement.     4. For the consideration expressed herein, Employee hereby releases and discharges Lifecoreand its officers, employees, agents, insurers, representatives, shareholders, directors, successorsand/or assigns from all liability for damages or claims of any kind and agrees not to institute anyaction against Lifecore for any such claims including, but not limited to, any claims arising underor based upon the Minnesota Human Rights Act, Minn. Stat. §§ 363A.01 etseq.; theAmericans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 etseq.; Title VII of the CivilRights Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e etseq.; or the Age Discrimination in EmploymentAct, 29 U.S.C. §§ 621 etseq.; and any other statutory, contract, quasi contract,or tort claims, whether developed or undeveloped, arising from or related to Employee’s employmentwith Lifecore and/or the cessation of Employee’s employment with Lifecore. Employee and Lifecoreagree
 

 
that, by signing this Agreement, Employee does not waive any claims arising after theexecution of this Agreement.     Employee also understands and agrees that he is waiving the right to monetary damages or otherindividual legal or equitable relief awarded by any governmental agency related to any claimagainst Lifecore arising from or relating to Lifecore’s hiring of Employee, Employee’s employmentwith Lifecore, the cessation of Employee’s employment with Lifecore, or any other actions,decisions, alleged omissions, or events occurring up through the date of Employee’s signing of thisAgreement.     5. Employee is hereby informed of his right to rescind this Agreement as far as it extends topotential claims under Minn. Stat. §§ 363A.01 etseq. by written notice to Lifecorewithin fifteen (15) calendar days following the execution of this Agreement. To be effective, suchwritten notice must either be delivered by hand or sent by certified mail, return receiptrequested, addressed to David M. Noel, Lifecore Biomedical, Inc., 3515 Lyman Boulevard, Chaska, MN55318-3051, delivered or post-marked within such fifteen (15) day period. Employee understandsthat Lifecore will have no obligations under this Agreement in the event such notice is timelydelivered, and that any payments already made pursuant to paragraph 2 shall be immediately repaidto Lifecore.     6. Employee is hereby informed of his right to revoke this Agreement as far as it extends topotential claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 621 etseq. by written notice to Lifecore within seven (7) calendar days following the executionof this Agreement. Employee understands that Lifecore will have no obligations under this Agreementin the event such notice is timely delivered, and that any payments already made pursuant toparagraph 2 shall be immediately repaid to Lifecore.
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     7. Employee is also hereby informed that the terms of this Agreement shall be open foracceptance for a period of twenty-one (21) days.     8. Employee’s Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Agreement with Lifecore dated January 3, 2006shall remain in full force and effect according to its terms, except that the duration ofEmployee’s obligations under paragraphs 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 thereof shall be reduced to a period ofsix (6) months following the date of termination of employment.     9. Employee agrees that he will refrain from making any statements, whether written or oral,which are disparaging of Lifecore, its products, directors, officers, employees, agents, orrepresentatives.     10. Employee agrees to keep the terms of this Agreement completely confidential, and not todisclose any information concerning the terms of this Agreement to anyone, with the sole exceptionof his attorneys, tax advisors, and taxing authorities or as may otherwise be required by law.     11. Employee represents and agrees that he has hereby been advised of his right to discussany and all aspects of this matter with an attorney, that the provisions set forth in thisAgreement are written in language understandable to him, that he has carefully read and fullyunderstands all of the provisions of this Agreement, and that he is voluntarily entering into thisAgreement.     12. Employee represents that he has not heretofore assigned or transferred, or purported toassign or transfer, to any person or entity, any claim against Lifecore, or any portion thereof orinterest therein.     13. Employee represents and acknowledges that in executing this Agreement, he does not relyand has not relied upon any representation or statement made by Lifecore, or by
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any of its agents, representatives or attorneys, with regard to the subject matter, basis, oreffect of this Agreement or otherwise.     14. This Agreement shall be binding upon Employee and upon his heirs, administrators,representatives, executors, successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of Lifecore, andto its representatives, transferees, successors and assigns.     15. This Agreement is made and entered into in the State of Minnesota and shall in allrespects be interpreted, enforced, and governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota. Thelanguage of all parts of this Agreement shall in all cases be construed as a whole, according toits fair meaning, and not strictly for or against any of the parties.     16. Should any provision of this Agreement be declared to be or be determined by any court tobe illegal or invalid, the validity of the remaining parts, terms, or provisions shall not beaffected thereby and the said illegal or invalid part, term, or provision shall be deemed not to bea part of this Agreement.     17. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and it fullysupersedes any and all prior agreements or understandings between the parties hereto pertaining tothe subject matter hereof, except as set forth in paragraph 8 above.         Dated: 5/21/07      /s/ BEN BECKHAM    Employee