2016 Retail Produce Managers Award Program

2016 Retail Produce Managers Award Program2016 Retail Produce Managers Award Nominations Now Being Accepted

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 16, 2015) – The United Fresh Produce Association is now accepting nominations for the 2016 United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Awards Program. The program will honor 25 outstanding retail produce managers at the United Fresh 2016 Convention June 20-22 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Retail Produce Manager Awards Program sponsored by Dole Food Company and now in it’s 12th year, pays special recognition to produce managers on the front line in supermarkets working everyday to increase sales and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Since the program’s inception, 255 produce managers from over 80 different retail banners have been honored for their commitment to customer satisfaction, innovative merchandising, produce-related community outreach, increased store sales and recognition among company peers. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2016 program. Nomination forms may be accessed online and must be received by January 5, 2016.

“This program is a powerful way for retailers to recognize their outstanding produce managers for their hard work and commitment to the industry,” said Greg Corrigan, Senior Director of Produce and Floral for Raley’s Family of Fine Stores and Chairman of United Fresh’s Retail-Foodservice Board. “The winning produce managers are recognized as leaders in their field and excellent representatives of the produce industry for our customers. We have made this a very important aspect of staff development at Raley’s.”

25 award winners, along with their corporate produce directors, will receive complimentary airfare, hotel accommodations and registrations to the United Fresh 2016 Convention. The winners will be honored at the Retail-Foodservice Celebration Dinner on Wednesday, June 22, where five grand prize winners will be announced as recipients of an additional $1,000 cash prize.

“Dole, like all members of United Fresh that grow and farm fresh produce, wouldn’t be successful without the knowledge, passion and day-to-day dedication of the produce manager,” said Howard Roeder, President of Dole Fresh Vegetables “They stand on the front line of our industry and represent our products to the shopper. For that we are very grateful.”

Click here for more information about the program, including selection criteria and a list of past winners since 2005. You can also contact Jeff Oberman, United Fresh Vice President of Trade Relations at joberman@unitedfresh.org or 831-600-8922.

Founded in 1904, the United Fresh Produce Association serves companies at the forefront of the global fresh and fresh-cut produce industry, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and Western Regional office in Salinas, Calif., United Fresh and its members work year-round to make a difference for the produce industry by driving policies that increase consumption of fresh produce, shaping critical legislative and regulatory action, providing scientific and technical leadership in food safety, quality assurance, nutrition and health, and developing educational programs and business opportunities to assist member companies in growing successful businesses. For more information, visit www.unitedfresh.org or call 202-303-3400.