Taste of Markon Raised Nearly $52,000 for Rancho Cielo’s Drummond Culinary Academy
October 28, 2026 | 3 min to read
SALINAS, Calif. — Markon Cooperative celebrated a record-breaking year for its 11th Annual Chef Summit and Taste of Markon, bringing together foodservice professionals, supplier partners, and the next generation of culinary talent. The events culminated in an unforgettable farm-to-table dining experience that generated more than $52,000 in fundraising revenue to benefit Rancho Cielo’s Drummond Culinary Academy.
Held September 30 through October 2, the Markon Chef Summit welcomed 18 member and customer chefs to California’s Salinas Valley for an immersive experience focused on fresh produce, culinary innovation, and the journey from field to fork. Throughout the three-day event, chefs participated in field tours, educational sessions, and collaborative discussions with growers and supplier partners, gaining firsthand insight into the people, practices, and innovation behind the produce they serve.
A key highlight of this year’s Summit was a hands-on research and development session where participating chefs collaborated to create new, exclusive Markon salad blends for the coming year. Drawing on their culinary expertise and firsthand understanding of foodservice operations, the chefs explored innovative ingredient combinations designed to deliver flavor, versatility, and convenience to professional kitchens. The collaborative session provided valuable operator-driven insights to help guide Markon’s future product development and bring exciting new offerings to its member companies and customers.
The Summit concluded with the annual Taste of Markon fundraising event at Rancho Cielo, where visiting chefs joined forces with students from the Drummond Culinary Academy to create an extraordinary farm-to-table culinary experience. Featuring fresh ingredients from Markon’s supplier partners, the strolling dinner showcased culinary creativity while providing students with invaluable hands-on experience working alongside accomplished foodservice professionals.
A Record-Breaking Year of Giving
The 2026 Taste of Markon welcomed 181 guests and generated approximately $52,000 through ticket sales, silent auction contributions, and donations. Net proceeds benefit Rancho Cielo’s Drummond Culinary Academy, supporting its mission to provide culinary education, job training, and career opportunities for young people in Monterey County.
“This year’s Chef Summit and Taste of Markon truly demonstrated what makes our industry special,” said Andy Hamilton, CEO of Markon Cooperative. “Bringing chefs closer to the crop while creating meaningful opportunities for the students at Rancho Cielo is something we are incredibly proud of. The generosity of our members, supplier partners, and community continues to make this event more impactful each year.”
Beyond the fundraising success, the events reinforced Markon’s commitment to connecting foodservice professionals with the source of their fresh produce while driving meaningful product innovation. From exploring the Salinas Valley’s agricultural operations to developing new product concepts and collaborating in the kitchen, the experience demonstrated the value of building relationships throughout the supply chain.
Markon extends its sincere appreciation to its member companies, participating chefs, supplier partners, event sponsors, volunteers, and the Rancho Cielo team for making this record-breaking year possible.
About Markon Cooperative
Markon Cooperative, Inc. brings a fresh approach and thinking to all its premium farm-to-table produce, including the Markon First Crop®, Ready-Set-Serve®, and Markon Essentials® product lines so that foodservice operators can offer the freshest ideas to their consumers. Based in Salinas, California, and nationally known as leaders in quality, consistency, and convenience, Markon serves as the produce purchasing, logistics, information, and marketing partner for its five member distributors (Ben E. Keith Foods, Gordon Food Service, Gordon Food Service Canada, Nicholas & Company, and Shamrock Foods) and their North American foodservice customers. Markon continues to introduce new, time-saving products and innovative packaging based on the needs of our member and operator customers. Learn more about Markon’s commitment to providing the highest-quality, safest, and freshest produce.
About Rancho Cielo
Based in the heart of the Salinas Valley, Rancho Cielo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit investing in young people facing challenges for success through diploma education, vocational training, life skills development and wraparound support in a safe and affirming environment. Students earn a WASC-accredited high school diploma and leave prepared for college, careers, post-secondary training and military service, with the goal of sustaining fulfilling careers within five years of graduation. Established in 2000 on 100 acres, Rancho Cielo has served over 2,250 students from Monterey County for more than 25 years.