Who won PMG's fall 2022 Produce Artist Award Series contest — and why?
Fall is long gone but the winners of PMG’s fall 2022 produce display contest are as fresh as the coming spring.
Who won? Why? Watch the winner webinar where the judges and host Amy Sowder discuss each category and winning work, breaking down best-of practices, tricks, tips and things to avoid when merchandising your produce in-store.
In one twist, a produce professional earned a new winning title of "Honorable Mention" because he kept earning runner-up over and over.
The judges have a lot of experience with retail merchandising:
- Joe Watson: vice president of retail, foodservice and wholesale for International Fresh Produce Association; former director of produce for Rouses Markets; 2014 Produce Retailer of the Year; and columnist for The Packer and PMG.
- Armand Lobato: Foodservice promotion director of the Idaho Potato Commission; formerly a produce category manager, merchandiser and buyer; ProduceEDU lecturer; longtime columnist for The Packer and PMG.
For a quick hit of what’s to come in the webinar, here are the winners for each category:
APPLES
Charles Chapman at Military Produce Group.
HARD SQUASH
Carlos Matos of Longo’s in Toronto.
PEARS
Brian Dey, senior merchandiser at Four Seasons Produce.
PUMPKINS
J. Jude Leong of Osan Air Base Commissary in South Korea.
SWEET POTATOES
Armando Arias of UNFI.
HONORABLE MENTION
Stephen Daly at Military Produce Group for apples, hard squash and sweet potatoes
BEST PRODUCE MERCHANDISER OR SPECIALIST
Ruben M Flores of El Rio Grande Latin Market in Dallas; he submitted displays also from his work at Central Market and Whole Foods Market, both also in the Dallas area.
BEST PRODUCE MANAGER
Rigo Vargas of Sunset Foods, Highland Park, Ill.
The top merchandiser and manager will receive prizes, and category winners will be featured in different platforms of PMG and The Packer, including print publications, online articles, social media, guides and other materials.
To enter PMG’s winter 2023 contest of the Produce Artist Award Series, send six to 10 large photos of your displays — especially citrus, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, Chilean produce and mushrooms — to artists@producemarketguide.com. The deadline to enter is March 4.
