NEWARK, DE - The legacy of Frieda Rapoport Caplan is one that will be eternally felt by the fresh produce industry. To contribute to her lasting impact, the Center for Growing Talent (CGT) by the Produce Marketing Association (PMA)—with the help of Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins—announced the founding of the Frieda Rapoport Caplan Women’s Fresh Perspectives Scholarship.

“As we finished off 2020, it was a challenging year for everyone in business. We felt it would be really awesome to memorialize and honor Mom by finding a way to give back to the industry and the foundation,” said Karen Caplan, CEO of Frieda’s. “Jackie and I decided to establish a scholarship to allow a woman who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to attend the conference to do so—all expenses paid.”

The scholarship will enable a woman in the industry to attend the Women’s Fresh Perspective Conference each year at no cost, according to a press release. The scholarship was designed for women in the industry who, like Frieda, embody a spirit of action, excellence, and dedication to personal and professional development.

This year’s conference will be held September 12–14, 2021, and the 2021 scholarship recipient should meet a few criteria, including being a first-time attendee of the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference and employed in any segment of the produce or floral supply chain at the time of application and the conference. More details about the application can be found here, and those interested should note that applications are being accepted until May 31, 2021.

“Many of us will remember Frieda as a transformative leader, a mentor, and an enduring supporter of personal and professional development,” said Megan Nash, Director of Programs at Center for Growing Talent. “It is so fitting that in the years to come, many women will be able to pursue their own development at the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference because of this lasting gift. We are so grateful to Karen, Jackie, and the Caplan family for their generous contribution, and we’re honored to be a part of the work to ensure the legacy of Frieda Rapoport Caplan is never forgotten.”

The Caplan family's influence and engagement with the Women’s Fresh Perspectives portfolio stems from the early days of the conference program. Frieda herself was a speaker at the inaugural Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference and received the Women’s Catalyst Award at the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Breakfast in October 2019 before she passed away in January 2020, after which the award was renamed in her honor.

Her family members, including granddaughter Alex Berkley, attend the conference every year. Berkley remains an active leader of the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Committee and served as Co-Chair from 2015–2017.

Cheers to Frieda and her everlasting legacy!

Center for Growing Talent Frieda's