EXHIBIT 99.1

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Corporate Fraud Accountability Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted), Theodore L. Arena, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Provena Foods, Inc. (the “COMPANY”), hereby certifies that, to the best of his knowledge:

1. The Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2002, to which this Certification is attached as Exhibit 99.1 (the “Periodic Report”), fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2. The information contained in the Periodic Report, fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition of the Company at the end of the period covered by the Periodic Report and results of operations of the Company for the period covered by the Periodic Report.

Dated:    August 8, 2002

/s/    Theodore L. Arena

Theodore L. Arena

President and Chief Executive Officer