EXHIBIT 5.1
                            Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
                            2800 One Atlantic Center
                           1201 West Peachtree Street
                           Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3450
                                                            Phone (404) 873-8500
                                                              Fax (404) 873-8501

                                August 21, 2002

SYSCO CORPORATION
SYSCO International, Co.
1390 Enclave Parkway
Houston, Texas  77077-2027

     Re: Legality of the 6.10% notes due 2012 being registered

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We render this opinion in  connection  with the  Registration  Statement on
Form S-4 (the  "Registration  Statement")  of SYSCO  International,  Co., a Nova
Scotia  unlimited   liability   company  ("SYSCO   International"),   and  SYSCO
Corporation,  a Delaware  corporation  ("SYSCO"),  relating to  $200,000,000  in
aggregate  principal amount of SYSCO  International's  6.10% Notes due 2012 (the
"Exchange Notes").  The Exchange Notes are being offered pursuant to an exchange
offer (the "Exchange Offer") in exchange for SYSCO  International's  outstanding
6.10% Notes due 2012. The Exchange  Notes are  unconditionally  guaranteed  (the
"Guarantees") by SYSCO.

     In connection with this opinion, we, as outside securities counsel to SYSCO
International  and  SYSCO,  have  examined  originals  or copies,  certified  or
otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the Indenture (the "Indenture")
dated as of May 23,  2002  among  SYSCO  International,  as  issuer,  SYSCO,  as
guarantor, and Wachovia Bank, National Association,  as trustee (the "Trustee"),
(ii) the  Registration  Statement,  (iii) the form of the Exchange  Notes as set
forth in the Indenture,  and (iv) all such additional  agreements,  certificates
and  other  documents  as we have  deemed  necessary  to form a basis  for  this
opinion. In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures,
the  authenticity  of  all  documents  submitted  to us  as  originals  and  the
conformity  with the originals (and the  authenticity  of such originals) of all
documents  submitted to us as copies.  We have,  when relevant facts material to
our opinion were not  independently  established by us, relied upon certificates
of public officials and certificates and other written statements of officers of
SYSCO International and SYSCO.

     Based upon and subject to the foregoing and to the qualifications expressed
below, we advise you that, in our opinion:

     (i) The Exchange Notes,  when duly executed by the proper officers of SYSCO
International, duly authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of
the  Indenture  and issued and  delivered  in  accordance  with the terms of the
Exchange  Offer and the Indenture,  will  constitute  valid and legally  binding
obligations of SYSCO  International,  enforceable against SYSCO International in
accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,  reorganization,
receivership,  fraudulent  conveyance or transfer,  moratorium and other laws of
general applicability  relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general
equitable principles.

     (ii) The  Guarantees  have been duly and validly  authorized  by SYSCO and,
when the Exchange Notes are executed and delivered in accordance  with the terms
of the Exchange  Offer and the Indenture  (and when the Exchange Notes have been
duly executed by the proper officers of SYSCO International,  duly authenticated
by the  Trustee in  accordance  with the terms of the  Indenture  and issued and
delivered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer and the Indenture),
will  constitute  valid and binding  obligations of SYSCO,  enforceable  against
SYSCO in  accordance  with  their  terms,  subject  to  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
reorganization,  receivership, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium and





other laws of general  applicability  relating to or affecting creditors' rights
and to general equitable principles.

     We express no opinion herein as to the laws of any jurisdiction  other than
the laws of the State of New York,  the laws of the  State of  Delaware  and the
Delaware General Corporation Law.

     We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the  Registration
Statement  and the  reference  to this firm under the  caption  "Legal  Matters"
contained therein and elsewhere in the Registration  Statement.  This consent is
not to be  construed  as an  admission  that we are a  party  whose  consent  is
required to be filed with the Registration Statement under the provisions of the
Securities Act.

                                Very truly yours,

                                ARNALL GOLDEN GREGORY LLP

                                /s/ ARNALL GOLDEN GREGORY LLP



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