United Fresh names produce manager grand prize winners
The United Fresh Produce Association had a surprise waiting for the finalists of the Retail Produce Manager Awards and Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards at the general session of United Fresh Live! on June 18.
The sponsors of each program, Dole for the retail awards and FreshEdge for the foodservice awards, are giving each finalist $1,000, United announced during its Retail-Foodservice Celebration session.
The financial awards are being given in a nod to the tireless efforts of those individuals amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The five produce managers selected as grand prize winners will now receive $2,000 each instead of the originally planned $1,000, according to a news release. The grand prize winners are:
- Ricky Morrison, Harris Teeter Supermarkets, Charlotte/Harrisburg, N.C.
- Ken Marske, Schmitz’s Economart, Spooner, Wis.
- Jaleisha Freeman, Oceana Naval Air Station Commissary, Virginia Beach, Va.
- Freddie Dowell, Brookshire Grocery Company, Malakoff, Texas
- Christine Burton, Kroger Company, Shelbyville, Ind.
Dole has sponsored the produce manager awards program for six years.
“We could not be more proud to be a part of this important recognition program,” CEO Johan Linden said in the release. “These essential workers are most valuable to our industry as consumers trust in their knowledge of the healthy benefits and safety of fresh produce. They do so much to promote the increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, and this program gives us a platform to express our sincere thanks on behalf of our company and our industry.”
To hear from some of the winners of the Retail Produce Manager Awards, check out the following articles:
Award-winning produce managers give advice on launching new products
Grand prize winner! VIDEO: Oceana’s Jaleisha Freeman talks Retail Produce Manager Award
VIDEO: Giant’s John Hollenden talks Retail Produce Manager Award
VIDEO: Harps Food Stores' Clay Williams talks Retail Produce Manager Award
Grand prize winner! VIDEO: Brookshire's Freddie Dowell talks Retail Produce Manager Award
VIDEO: Tops Markets' Brad Franklin talks Retail Produce Manager Award
VIDEO: Rouses Markets' Josh Smith talks Retail Produce Manager Award
The Fresh Market's Eddy Queirolo talks Retail Produce Manager Award
