Timothy York

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Timothy E. York

CEO, California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement

Tim York’s extensive career in the agriculture sector that spans almost fifty years has now placed him as the CEO of the Leafy Greens Marketing Association (LGMA). Under his direction the LGMA stands as a respected food safety watchdog for 99% of the leafy greens grown in California. During his tenure, the LGMA has implemented new programs including pre harvest testing of romaine products, expanded food safety standards and the introduction of a dedicated food safety compliance officer. 

Prior to LGMA, Tim York was President of Markon, a food service produce purchasing company. As President, Tim York worked to establish food safety standards in the late 90’s that held suppliers accountable to evaluate and collect data on the safety of their product. By 2003 Markon required all suppliers they worked with to have third party audited food safety programs. The result was the elimination of 25% of their former suppliers. These strict standards enabled Markon to stand proudly behind the products they sold to their customers in the food service community. 

In 2006, in response to the E. coli outbreak in spinach, Mr. York lobbied key buyers to join Markon in requiring the produce industry to develop common standards that were specific, measurable, and verifiable to ensure greater food safety. 

To better enforce these requirements, California growers developed the LGMA. During that same period, the Center for Produce Safety was also created to fill in knowledge gaps on pathogenic food safety. Mr. York served as The Center’s Chairman from 2007-2012, and again from 2014-2016 where he helped create the mission and structure of this vital organization. To date, the Center for Produce Safety has spent over $45 million on research projects to make greater inroads across the industry in support of food safety. 

As a member of IFPA’s Food Safety Council and the Board of CPS, Mr. York remains a respected and dedicated food safety advocate