United Fresh to Honor 25 Produce Managers

ROSEANNE HARPER

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chosen for their outstanding performance, 25 produce managers from across the United States and Canada will be honored at the United Fresh Produce Association’s upcoming United Fresh 2011 convention and expo in New Orleans in May.

The top 25, representing 21 different supermarket chains, independent retailers and commissaries, have been chosen to be honored through the United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Awards Program, which is sponsored by Ready Pac Foods.

The awards recognize those on the front-line in supermarkets working everyday to increase sales and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

"These men and women have such an undeniable impact on our industry," said Tom Stenzel, president and CEO of United Fresh. "Through their creative efforts and interaction with customers, they're making produce a centerpiece of the retail shopping experience and wowing consumers every day."

The 25 winners, selected from hundreds of nominations submitted by retailers and produce suppliers, are in alphabetical order: Shannon Adkins, Food City, Shelbiana, Ky.; Dorinda Bertoldi, Big Y Foods, Inc., Wilbraham, Mass.; Terry Blackburn, Hy-Vee, Inc., Lincoln, Neb.; Aaron Carleton, King Soopers/City Market, Boulder, Colo.; Donald Courtright, Beale AFB Commissary, Beale, Calif.; Michael Crutchfield, Save Mart, Angels Camp, Calif.; Craig Docherty, Vons, Las Vegas, Nev.; David Dozier, GFF Foods, Moore, Okla.; Paul Ferro, Jewel-Osco, Chicago, Ill.; Jake Foster, Brookshire Grocery Co., Athens, Texas; Greg Gerdes, Hy-Vee, Inc., Sioux Falls, S.D.; Mark Glanville, Hannaford Bros. Co., Scarborough, Me.; Dave Heetderks, Spartan Stores, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Brad Lange, Brookshire Grocery Co., Shreveport, La.; Dave Lemire, Safeway Stores, Inc., Tsawwassen, B.C., Canada; Ben Lopez, Nob Hill Foods/Raley's Family of Fine Stores, San Ramon, Calif.; Bob Merritt, Quality Food Centers, Seattle, Wash.; David Nappi, Price Chopper Supermarkets/Golub Corporation, Plattsburgh, N. Y.; Ron Potter, Food City, Kingsport, Tenn.; Marilyn Jo Poyzer, Woods Supermarkets, Nevada, Mo.; David Schoch, Bel Air Markets/Raley's Family of Fine Stores, Woodland, Calif.; Eric Segerstrom, Safeway Stores, Inc., Bellevue, Wash.; Jennifer Smith, Camp Pendleton Commissary, Oceanside, Calif.; John Ward, VG's Food, Shelby Twp, Mich.; and David Williams, Rouses Supermarkets, New Orleans.

"Ready Pac is proud to once again sponsor this program and we commend these well-deserving individuals and companies for a job well done!" said Michael Solomon, president and chief executive officer Ready Pac.

All winners and their corporate produce directors will be honored at United Fresh 2011 during the Chairman's Reception & Annual Awards Banquet, Wednesday, May 4, at the Hilton Riverside Hotel in New Orleans. In addition to free registration and travel to the show for the 25 winners, five Grand Prize recipients will receive an additional $1,000 cash prize.