The judges have made their decisions: They’ve voted for the winners of the 2022 Produce Artist Award Series Contest.
The most-picked selections are featured in this video, where the panel of judges dissected what made their work so great, so that others in the industry can incorporate merchandising tips and tricks into their own store strategies to increase sales.
Our expert panel of judges included:
- Joe Watson: Vice president of retail, foodservice and wholesale for the International Fresh Produce Association, former director of produce for Rouses Markets and 2014 Produce Retailer of the Year.
- Armand Lobato: Foodservice promotion director of the Idaho Potato Commission, formerly a produce category manager, merchandiser and buyer, and longtime columnist for The Packer and PMG.
- Brian Dey: Three-time winner of the produce merchandiser category in PMG’s Produce Artist Award Series and senior merchandiser and trainer at Four Seasons Produce.
And the winners of each category are:
Berries
Ryan Fernandes, Longo’s Walkers Line, Burlington, Ontario.
Mangoes
Dave Schrader, Monadnock Food Co-op, Keene, NH.
Melon – tie
Ryan Fernandes, Longo’s Walkers Line, Burlington, Ontario.
Chris Blackwood, Military Produce Group, Quantico Marine Corps Base.
Sweet Corn
Todd Walsh, Military Produce Group, Keesler Air Force Base.
Vidalia Onion
Stephen Daly, Military Produce Group, Norfolk Naval Station.
Produce Merchandiser/Specialist
Winner: Charles Chapman, produce specialist for Military Produce Group, Eglin Air Force Base, Jacksonville Naval Air Station, MacDill Air Force Base and Pensacola Naval Air Station.
Produce Manager
Winner: John Truncale, produce manager at Brattleboro Food Co-op, Brattleboro, Vt.
Congratulations to all the winners! Their great work will be showcased throughout social media and on several platforms of PMG and The Packer, including print editions. Winners receive a prize, and of course — bragging rights!
This Produce Artist Award Series is sponsored by Sage Fruit Co.
It’s never too early to think about what produce displays you want to photograph and enter into our next contest in the series, which is all about summer, going into fall. Email questions, thoughts and your six to 10 photo entries to produceartistawards@producemarketguide.com.
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