Votes counted: These are the best summer produce displays at retail

The results are in. The judges have decided.

Our expert panel of three judges has reviewed the entries for the 2021 Summer Produce Artist Award Series in these categories: Cherries, grapes, stone fruit and summer vegetables. They’ve also reviewed the submissions for the best overall produce manager and best overall produce merchandiser.

Each season of the year, we ask for submissions from produce professionals involved in merchandising and produce displays at retail to submit photos of their work, relating to that season’s produce. The series is sponsored by Yakima, Wash.-based Sage Fruit, a grower, packer and shipper of apples, pears and cherries.

The contest series is a chance to not only celebrate this work, but also to educate and inspire others to get creative with their produce department displays. It’s the signature department of a store, what influence shoppers to choose your location.

The judges for the summer contest were:

Mike O’Brien: President of O’Brien Innovations; former vice president of produce for St. Louis-based Schnuck Markets; 2004 Produce Retailer of the Year;
Joe Watson: Vice president of membership and engagement for Produce Marketing Association; former director of produce for Thibodaux, La.-based Rouses Markets; 2014 Produce Retailer of the Year; and
Armand Lobato: Foodservice promotion director of the Idaho Potato Commission; formerly a produce category manager, merchandiser and buyer; longtime columnist for The Packer and PMG.

These displays drive sales and can be show-stoppers, points of pride for your retailer.

“This is what slows people down, and they think, ‘What is that? I’m going to take a closer look,’” Lobato said.

Cherries

One of the last remaining truly seasonally available fruits, there’s a short window to grab consumers’ attention with your cherry displays, panelists said.

pmg cherries — **Runner-up:** Stephen Daly, produce specialist for Military Produce Group, Little Creek Commissary, Va.

cherry winner pmg — **Winner:** Brian Dey of Four Seasons, Ephrata, Pa.

“Great use of POS materials provided by Stemilt, and being able to highlight not only red cherries but the Rainiers with that newer type top-seal packaging — it just presents everything so well. Even before you get to that display you know what you’re walking into,” Watson said.

Grapes

grape pmg — **Runner-up:** Sarah Romano of Longo’s

grape winner pmg — **Winner:** Mario DePalma of S. Katzman Produce, Bronx, N.Y.

“I’m a big fan of refrigeration. These two displays, you see the refrigeration, the full variety and it’s very well presented,” O’Brien said. “And if you look at the scan data, grapes are an important part of sales, something that’s a staple for today’s consumer.”

Stone fruit

Wide and low are good practices for stone fruit, the panelists said. “All the color breaks that Chris did: Amazing. Not only the color breaks but look at the symmetry. I love a display that basically mirrors left to right, right to left. That’s really a clean look,” Lobato said. “And look at all that variety. You have variety and you have selection.”

Summer vegetables

summer vegetable pmg — **Runner-up:** Phillip Worley, produce specialist for Military Produce Group, Fort Campbell, Ky.

summer vegetable winner pmg — **Winner:** Dylan Terwilleger of Dallas-based Central Market, part of H-E-B.

“I had a boss once tell me, 'When you don’t have an event, create an event.' So this is what you do with hatch chiles. It has such a short window, it’s a chile that comes from New Mexico, and not everybody takes advantage of it. Make a big deal out of it. Work with your supplier,” O’Brien said.

Best overall produce manager

best produce manager phillip worley — **Winner:** Phillip Worley, produce specialist for Military Produce Group, Fort Campbell, Ky.

“It’s the whole department, not just the front display, as far as merchandising goes. You get a great feel for the fresh produce, the quality of the entire department,” O’Brien said.

Best overall produce merchandiser

brian dey merchandiser winner pmg — **Winner:** Best Brian Dey, Four Seasons, Ephrata, Pa.

“Brian’s imagination never ceases. Whenever we look at the work that he submits, you think, ‘OK, I’ve seen his best.’ Then he does something better or more unique in some way,” Watson said. “He just keeps getting better at what he does.”

Dey also trained and taught his expertise to others, which is also important, O’Brien said.

“This is what produce departments’ potential is, what they’re capable of. When you have your department that sharp, you’re going to drive sales,” Lobato said.

Of course, it all boils down to labor, he said.

“But produce departments do tend to contribute a higher amount of the profit toward the store’s bottom line,” Lobato said. “This is the kind of thing that makes me ask, why aren’t you pumping as many hours as you can into produce departments for displays, for training, not being afraid to bring in all your items?”

“I love a store that looks like grand opening.”

The time to submit your fall display photos is now! The deadline is Nov. 17 for entries. Take six to 10 photos of these displays: apples, sweet potatoes, squash, pears and pumpkins, as well as other displays and email them to ProduceArtistAwards@ProduceMarketGuide.com. You’ll be eligible for prizes, rave reviews in a recorded webinar and bragging rights.