Michael Gavina Commissioned to Serve on Sustainable Development and Energy Efficiency Commission with the City of Vernon California

LOS ANGELES, April 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- F. Gavina & Sons, Inc., (Gavina) producers of California's own Don Francisco's Coffee announced that Michael Gavina has been appointed to serve on the Sustainable Development and Energy Efficiency Commission (SDEEC) with the City of Vernon. The seven-member commission, which includes local business leaders, will meet once a month to set sustainable and energy efficient standards in community zoning and development for the City of Vernon. In addition, the committee will provide an open forum to discuss policies and practices, provide education and outreach to business community and initiate new policies and practices to promote sustainability within the city of Vernon.

"Sustainability has always been a priority for F. Gavina & Sons, Inc., and minimizing our carbon footprint, reducing waste, and lowering energy costs are as important as delivering the perfect cup of coffee," explained Michael Gavina. "I am honored to be a part of the commission and look forward to developing a greener community in which to work, live and play."

Michael Gavina represents the fourth generation of Gavina's coffee roasting legacy and has been spearheading Gavina's own sustainability efforts since 2007.

In 2007, the City of Vernon recognized Gavina's 240,000 square foot state-of-the-art roasting facility as the greenest factory in the city and bestowed the company with the prestigious Solid Waste Alternative Programs Award.  In 2010, Gavina was named the "2010 Food Processor of the Year" by the Food Industry Business Roundtable for its extraordinary work in developing, implementing and promoting the principles of sustainability.

As further testament to its environmental vision in action, Gavina partnered with UCLA to identify additional ways to reduce energy use and increase efficiency. Gavina has since reduced its waste output by more than 84 percent and plans to reach its goal of over 90 percent in the next few years.  In addition, Gavina is currently in the process of attaining LEED (The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. LEED certification is the most sought-after designation awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), setting the benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

Michael Gavina currently serves as purchasing manager for Gavina and is one of the company's eight licensed Q Graders, professionally accredited coffee cuppers who are exclusively certified by the Coffee Quality Institute® (CQI), who work alongside the Quality Control Department to ensure the quality of each bag of coffee and to create new coffee blends.

City of Vernon California
Vernon was founded in 1905 to create jobs in California. In 2011, Vernon's 1,800 business's that generated more than 105,000 jobs in the Los Angeles region – including more than 50,000 jobs within the city's boundaries. Vernon is the home to industries including food, agriculture, apparel, steel, plastics, logistics and home furnishings. The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation designated Vernon as California's Most Business Friendly City. Vernon generates more than $330 million in state income and sales taxes and $1.1 billion in taxable spending. For more information, go to: http://cityofvernon.org.

About Don Francisco's Coffee
Produced by F. Gavina & Sons, Inc. since 1967, Don Francisco's is the leading coffee retail brand in Southern California and ranks among the top 10 nationally.  Based in Vernon, California, F. Gavina & Sons, Inc., one of the largest family-owned coffee companies in America and the nation's largest privately held minority roaster, has been a leading producer of high-quality and great tasting coffee for more than four generations.  Spanning more than 130 years, dating back to the family's humble beginnings in the rich-coffee bearing soil of the Caribbean, the unmatched experience as coffee growers and roasters has paved the way for a strong presence in wholesale and retail accounts all across the country. To learn more about Don Francisco's Coffee and the Gavina family, please visit www.donfranciscos.com or www.facebook.com/DonFranciscos.

SOURCE F. Gavina & Sons, Inc.

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