Exhibit 99.1

     [GRAPHIC OMITTED]                                          NEWS RELEASE
                                                                Contact:
                                                                Bea Slizewski
                                                                585-264-3189

                     PRO-FAC COOPERATIVE ANNOUNCES DELAY IN
                        FOURTH QUARTER DIVIDEND PAYMENTS

ROCHESTER,  N.Y., July 9, 2002 ...Pro-Fac Cooperative,  Inc. (Nasdaq: PFACP), an
agricultural  cooperative based in Rochester, New York, today announced that its
board of directors  has decided to delay the payment of dividends  normally paid
on or  about  July 31 of each  year on  Pro-Fac's  cumulative  preferred  stock,
non-cumulative preferred stock, and common stock.

As was previously  announced on June 21, 2002, Pro-Fac and Agrilink Foods, Inc.,
a wholly owned subsidiary of Pro-Fac,  incurred a non-cash  impairment charge in
their  financial  statements  for the fiscal  year  ending  June 29, 2002 to the
goodwill value of Agrilink.  The amount of the charge, to conform with Financial
Accounting  Standard  142,  was  originally  expected to be  approximately  $105
million,  but,  upon further  review of the  situation by Pro-Fac,  Agrilink and
Pro-Fac's  independent  accountants,  is now expected to be  approximately  $140
million. Agrilink initiated and has obtained an interim waiver from its existing
bank lenders waiving the impact of the impairment charge on a covenant under the
bank  lending  facility,  so that  Agrilink  will  continue  to have  access  to
borrowing  under  its  bank  lending  agreement  to fund the  operations  of its
business through September 27, 2002.

On June 21, 2002,  Agrilink,  Pro-Fac and Vestar Capital Partners also announced
the  signing of a  definitive  agreement  providing  for a $175  million  equity
investment in Agrilink  under which  affiliates of Vestar will obtain control of
Agrilink.  The equity  investment  will be used,  along with  proceeds  of a new
credit facility,  to repay Agrilink's  existing bank  indebtedness.

Because the exact amount of the impairment  charge has not been determined,  and
because it is unclear whether the impairment  charge will have any impact on any
covenants under

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Pro-Fac Delays Dividends (p.2)


Agrilink's other lending arrangements,  Pro-Fac's Board of Directors has decided
to delay the payment of its dividends  normally paid in July pending the closing
of the transaction with Vestar. No record date or payment date has been fixed by
the Board of Directors at this time.

In a  separate  announcement  today,  Agrilink  said that it has  initiated  the
solicitation process for consent to the Vestar transaction by the holders of its
senior subordinated notes which is expected to be completed on or about July 22,
2002. The closing of the Vestar transaction is targeted for early August,  2002.


Pro-Fac Cooperative is a grower cooperative  consisting of more than 500 members
who provide  fruits and vegetables  that are processed at facilities  across the
country.   These  commodities  are  marketed  as  branded,   private  label  and
foodservice products, primarily through Agrilink Foods.




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: the consummation of
the equity investment by Vestar in Agrilink; the impact of strong competition in
the food  industry,  including  competitive  pricing;  the  impact of changes in
consumer demand; the impact of weather on the volume and quality of raw product;
the inherent risks in the marketplace associated with new product introductions,
including uncertainties about trade and consumer acceptance; the continuation of
our success in integrating operations,  including the realization of anticipated
synergies  in  operations  and  the  timing  of  any  such  synergies,  and  the
availability of acquisition and alliance  opportunities;  our ability to achieve
gains in productivity and improvements in capacity  utilization;  our ability to
service debt;  interest rate  fluctuations;  and  effectiveness of marketing and
shifts in market demand.  Please refer to Pro-Fac Cooperative's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30,  2001 as well as other  reports and
information  filed by  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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