WASHINGTON, DC - The United Fresh Produce Association is celebrating its 15th year of recognizing produce and retail excellence. This week, the association announced the top 25 honorees of the 2019 Retail Produce Manager Awards Program. This year’s winners—representing the best of the best produce managers from supermarket banners, commissaries, and independent retail stores across 16 different states and two Canadian provinces—will be recognized at the United Fresh 2019 convention on June 10-12 in Chicago.

“Produce managers are the face of our industry to the consumer. Their creative merchandising and positive approach to customer service directly correlates to the growth of sales and ultimately consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables,” said United Fresh President & CEO Tom Stenzel. “We are grateful to Dole for once again sponsoring this program and for their partnership in recognizing these 25 deserving honorees. I look forward to celebrating our winners this June in Chicago.”

According to a press release, the 2019 Retail Produce Manager Award Winners are:

• Vincente Aguirre, Fort Bliss Commissary, El Paso, TX
• Gregory Barnufsky Jr., Yokes Fresh Markets, Spokane, WA
• Mike Burdi, Metro Ontario Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada
• Jerry Clark II, The Fresh Market, Roanoke, VA
• Cassandra Crone, North State Grocery, Inc., Auburn, CA
• Bobby David, Audubon Market, St. Francisville, LA
• William Denault, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Lenox, MA
• Elaine Fong, Calgary Co-op, Calgary, AB, Canada
• Baryn Hagood-Lund, Safeway Inc., Everett, WA
• Heather Hudgins, MOM's Organic Markets, Whitemarsh, MD
• Edward Jette, Big Y Foods, Easton, MA
• Jason Karaffa, Albrecht's Sentry Foods, Delafield, WI
• Robin Manwaring, Tops Friendly Markets, Pulaski, NY
• Greg Miller, Raley's Family of Fine Stores, Chico, CA
• Michael Rowe, Brookshire’s Grocery Company, Bridgeport, TX
• David Scarlett, Food City/K-VA-T Food Stores, Knoxville, TN
• Martin Sevensky, Weis Markets, Inc., Clarks Summit, PA
• Michael Sockett, Gelson's Markets, Valley Village, CA
• Jimmy Strickland, Harris Teeter, Fayetteville, NC
• Charles Tavacol, Giant Foods, McLean, VA
• Roman Teig, Hy-Vee, Inc., Omaha, NE
• Jason Thompson, Hollywood Markets, Madison Heights, MI
• David Thompson, The Kroger Company, Peachtree City, GA
• Brittany Woodall, Fred Meyer, Bellevue, WA
• Patricia Young, Meijer, Springfield, IL

Since its inception in 2005, the retail produce manager program has recognized those on the front lines of produce, working every day to increase sales and consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables. In its 15-year run, the program, which is sponsored by Dole Food Company this year, has named over 325 retail produce managers from 110 different retail banners. These winners were selected from hundreds of nominations that were submitted by retailers and produce suppliers across our industry. Nominations were then evaluated based on individuals’ efforts to increase produce consumption via merchandising, special displays and promotions, community service, and commitment to customer satisfaction.

“These individuals and the companies that they represent are really putting forward the tremendously positive messages around produce to shoppers everyday,” said Johan Linden, President and CEO of Dole Food Company. “All of us, whether growers, processors, or distributors—the entire supply chain—would not be as successful without their knowledge and expertise at the store level. The United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Awards program is an opportunity for Dole, and all of us as an industry, to show our appreciation and say thank you.”

The 2019 winners and their corporate produce directors will be honored at United Fresh 2019 during the Retail-Foodservice Celebration on June 12. In addition to their awards, five Grand Prize recipients will each receive a $1,000 cash prize.

Who will this year’s Grand Prix winners be? Find out in Chicago for another great United Fresh convention and expo!

For more of the latest produce industry news, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.

United Fresh