DA Presents $71,000 to San Francisco-Marin Food Bank

PHOTO: Marin County District Attorney Ed Berberian speaks to the board of supervisors after presenting a check for $71,000 on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

The following is a news release from the Marin County District Attorney’s Office:

Marin County District Attorney Ed Berberian presented a $71,000 check to the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank at Tuesday’s meeting of the Marin County Board of Supervisors.

The Consumer Protection Unit of the Marin County District Attorney’s Office has been working jointly with the Consumer Units from Riverside and San Diego Counties on a number of enforcement actions throughout the state involving unfair business practices by food industry corporations. As a result of a recent stipulated settlement in one of these enforcement actions, it was agreed Marin County would receive civil penalties totally $71,000.

The Board of Supervisors was told the mission statement for the District Attorney’s Office speaks to keeping Marin safe and enhancing its quality of life. This melds with the overall mission of County governance where the Board of Supervisors’ stated mission is to provide excellent services that support healthy, safe and sustainable communities. Among the goals to meet these objectives is the demonstration of providing excellent service and encouraging community collaboration and partnerships.

In this particular situation District Attorney Berberian asked that our county settlement payments be converted into a one-time restitution payment to the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. Specifically, the restitution payment was required to be used to support transportation and refrigeration improvements at their Marin facilities so the food products they distributed throughout Marin County to its residents are safe and healthy. The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank provides supporting services for many of Marin’s food distribution outreach programs. These programs support the needy and homeless in our community and have been a long-time, invaluable contributor to our community.

The check was accepted by Paul Ash, Executive Director, and Gina Salerno, Grants Manager for the Food Bank.