UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): October 12, 2001

                            PRO-FAC COOPERATIVE, Inc.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


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                 New York                              0-20539                          16-6036816
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<S>                                             <C>                    <C>
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number)(IRS Employer Identification Number)
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                90 Linden Oaks, Rochester, New York       14625
             ----------------------------------------- -------------
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)


        Registrant's Telephone Number Including Area Code: (716) 383-1850







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Item 5.  Other Events

Agrilink Foods, Inc.  ("Agrilink  Foods"),  a wholly owned subsidiary of Pro-Fac
Cooperative, Inc. ("Pro-Fac"),  issued the press release attached to this report
as  an  exhibit  regarding  workforce   reductions.   In  conjunction  with  the
restructuring  program  outlined,  Agrilink  Foods will record a charge  against
earnings primarily  comprising  employee  termination  benefits of approximately
$2.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2002. The restructuring actions are
expected to improve fiscal 2002 earnings by approximately $5.0 million.

Forward looking information:

This press release contains predictions,  estimates,  and other "forward-looking
statements"  within the meaning of section 21E of the  Exchange  Act and section
27A of the Securities Act. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks
and  uncertainties  that could cause actual  results to differ  materially  from
those  anticipated  in these  forward-looking  statements as of the date of this
press release.  These risks include,  but are not limited to, strong competition
in  the  food  industry,  including  competitive  pricing,  the  integration  of
acquisitions, the effect of adverse weather conditions on the volume and quality
of raw products, interest rate fluctuations,  the effectiveness of marketing and
shifts  in  market  demand.   Please  refer  to  Agrilink   Foods'  and  Pro-Fac
Cooperative's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001
and the risk factors  section of Pro-Fac  Cooperative's  preliminary  prospectus
contained in its  Registration  Statement on Form S-2 filed October 10, 2001, as
well as other  reports  and  information  filed by  Agrilink  Foods and  Pro-Fac
Cooperative with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for more information on
factors that could cause actual results to differ.

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                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



                                                 PRO-FAC COOPERATIVE, INC.



Date:    October 12, 2001       BY:   /s/             Earl L. Powers
         ----------------             ----------------------------------------
                                                      EARL L. POWERS,
                                                         TREASURER
                                             (Principal Financial Officer and
                                               Principal Accounting Officer)


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INDEX TO EXHIBITS:

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     Exhibit No.                                      Description
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        99.1              Press release announcing workforce reductions, dated October 12, 2001
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