FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Amy Philpott, aphilpott@unitedfresh.org, 202 303 3425

Washington, DC -- United Fresh Produce Association announced today that it is now accepting applications for its annual Retail Produce Manager Awards Program. The program, now in its fourth year, will honor 25 retail produce managers at the store level and include their corporate produce directors in formal recognition at the United Fresh, Las Vegas 2008 show, May 4-7.

“The continual support from supermarket executives to honor their front-line produce staff has been tremendous,” said United Fresh President Tom Stenzel. “Every year senior retail executives attend the awards ceremony to show their support for their winners. Great employees, empowered by their management, make a huge difference in store sales,” he said.

For the fourth straight year, Ready Pac Produce will be the sole sponsor of the Retail Produce Manager Awards Program, including the program’s expansion from 20 award winners to 25 in 2008. “We are delighted to continue our support for these true industry ambassadors who have the day-to-day connection with consumers in stores,” said Ready Pac CEO Dennis Gertmenian.These front-line produce experts can have a dramatic, positive impact on purchasing behavior and thus our overall industry growth and we are proud to help recognize the best of the best.”

“This program sends a powerful message to the retail community,” said United Fresh Business Development Council Chairman Mike Kemp, senior director of perishable operations at Save-A-Lot. “It encourages and promotes excellence in the produce department and that benefits everyone. Thanks to Ready Pac for supporting this wonderful program.”

The 25 award winners and their corporate produce directors will receive complimentary airfare, hotel accommodations, and registration s to North America’s leading food marketing event �" featuring the United Fresh Marketplace and United FreshTech, co located with FMI and Marketechnics® �" May 5-8, 2008, in Las Vegas. The winners will be honored at the annual United Fresh Awards Banquet on Tuesday, May 6 at the Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas where four grand prize winners will be announced as recipients of an additional $1,000 cash prize. To attend the banquet and the expos, purchase the All-Access Pass when you register at http://www.unitedfreshshows.com/.

All United Fresh member companies are eligible to submit applications. “Retail companies use this program to honor their own, but commissions, marketing boards, wholesalers, processors and other produce companies also submit applications as a way of recognizing store level managers,” said Amy Philpott, vice president of marketing and industry relations at United Fresh. “This is a great opportunity to let customers know that they are appreciated.”

Nomination forms for the 2008 Retail Produce Manager Award are available online with applications due by January 15, 2008. Visit http://www.unitedfresh.org/ for a copy of the nomination form and a list of the selection criteria.

The 2007 Retail Produce Manager Award winners included:

· JOHN ARELLANO, Raley’s, San Pablo, CA

· RAY BOWMAN, Hy-Vee, Inc. Sioux Falls, SD

· KAREN CAPPUCCILLI, Winn Dixie Stores, Inc., Port Charlotte, FL

· EDWARD FAIRBROTHER, Price Chopper, Syracuse, NY

· TIM FEARING, Niemann’s Foods, Inc., Sterling, IL

· JAMES FORNELLI, Jewel Osco, Highland Park, IL

· JOSE GUADARRAMA, Food4Less, Riverside, CA

· JEFFRY INGRAM, Brookshire Grocery Co., Tyler, TX

· CAROL JOHNSON, Raley’s, Loomis, CA

· KEVIN KINSLEY, Hy-Vee, Inc., Rochester, MN

· KEN KORSON, Meijer, Traverse City, MI

· CAY MCCONNELL, K-VA-T Foods, Blountville, TN

· SANDY MCMICHAEL, Market Place, Columbia, IL

· JIM MINER, Bashas’, Sedona, AZ

· JORGE MUÑOZ, Safeway, Inc., Morgan Hill, CA

· LEROY REESMAN, Albrecht’s Sentry Foods, Delafield, WI

· SHANE SCARBROUGH, Brookshire Grocery Co., Jackson, MS

· THOMAS SCIARRINO, Price Chopper, Dunmore, PA

· SHARI SPENCER, King Soopers, Highland Ranch, CO

· MICHELLE WILLIAMS, Food Lion, LLC, Charleston, SC

The United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Awards Program

is generously sponsored by Ready Pac Foods, Inc.