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                                                                  Exhibit 99.1
                                                                  NEWS RELEASE
                                                                  Contact:
                                                                  Bea Slizewski
                                                                  Agrilink Foods
                                                                  585-264-3189



                     PRO-FAC MEMBERS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVE
                      VESTAR EQUITY INVESTMENT IN AGRILINK


ROCHESTER,  New York, July 24, 2002...Pro-Fac  Cooperative,  Inc. (Nasdaq:PFACP)
and its wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Agrilink Foods, Inc.  ("Agrilink")  announced
today  that  Pro-Fac  members  have  voted  overwhelmingly  in favor of the $175
million  equity   investment  in  Agrilink  by   Vestar/Agrilink   Holdings  LLC
("Vestar"),  an affiliate of Vestar Capital Partners IV, L.P. Obtaining approval
from two-thirds of Pro-Fac's  members was one of the key conditions  required to
complete  the Vestar  transaction,  as  announced  on June 21,  2002.  Pro-Fac's
members  had until  Monday,  July 22, to cast their  vote.  As of the end of day
yesterday,  July 23, 88  percent of Pro-Fac  members  had cast their  ballots to
approve the Vestar transaction.

In a separate announcement yesterday,  July 23, Agrilink reported the successful
completion  of its consent  solicitation  from the holders of its 11-7/8% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2008. This was another key condition needed to facilitate
the Vestar transaction, which is now expected to close in early August.

Rochester,  N.Y.-based Agrilink, the country's largest manufacturer and marketer
of frozen vegetables,  anticipates  generating sales in excess of $1 billion for
its fiscal year ending June 29,  2002.  The Company  markets its branded  frozen
vegetable  products  under  the  Birds  Eye,  Birds Eye  Voila!,  Freshlike  and
McKenzie's names. In addition,  Agrilink produces other branded processed foods,
including canned vegetables (Freshlike and Veg-All),  pie fillings (Comstock and
Wilderness),  chili and chili ingredients  (Nalley and Brooks),  salad dressings
(Bernstein's  and Nalley)  and snacks  (Tim's,  Snyder of Berlin and  Husman's).
Agrilink  also  produces  many of these  products  for the private  label,  food
service and industrial markets.

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.

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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