ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association here, in an attempt to better understand and serve the different needs of its members, has lowered its dues for retail and food-service operators for the 1995 calendar year.
ly, dues for retailers ranged from $550 to $975 per year, depending on the volume of sales in the produce department, according to United.
"By understanding the very different needs of our members, United has been able to better define its mission and streamline its priorities in the past year," said Tom Stenzel, president of United.
"We anticipate a substantial increase in retail and food-service participation in FreshWorld 95 in Anaheim Feb. 5 to 7, and in other programs throughout the year by those operators who previously found the cost of attending any national programs prohibitive," said Stenzel.
"Our customer members bring great value to the produce industry by their active participation in networking and educational events, not solely in the amount of dues they pay," said William W. Heintz, United's chairman and president of Heintz & Co., Salinas, Calif.
"We want to provide produce suppliers at all levels additional opportunities to build partnerships and work together with their customers," he said.