The United Fresh Research & Education Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2010 United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Awards Program. Established in 2005 by founding sponsor Ready Pac Foods, Inc., the program will honor 25 retail produce managers at the store level and include their corporate produce directors in formal recognition at the United Fresh 2010 convention, April 20-23 in Las Vegas, Nev.

"Retail produce managers have such a huge responsibility within our industry," said Chairman of United’s Retail-Foodservice Board Reggie Griffin, vice president of produce and floral merchandising and procurement for Kroger. "They represent the front lines of the produce business and have a key opportunity for direct interaction with the consumer. Retail produce managers, through innovative displays, promotions and sheer creativity, have a direct and tangible effect on all of our bottom lines."

          The 25 award winners and their corporate produce directors will receive complimentary airfare, hotel accommodations and registrations to United Fresh 2010. The winners will be honored at the annual United Fresh Awards Banquet on Thursday, April 22 where five grand prize winners will be announced as recipients of an additional $1,000 cash prize.

          "Retail produce managers can make a real difference to our consumers, our companies, and our industry," said Michael Solomon, president and CEO of Ready Pac Foods, Inc. "Ready Pac is very pleased to honor the best and brightest managers for the incredible work they do everyday on our industry’s behalf, and we are proud to be the sponsor of the Retail Produce Manager Awards Program."

          "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."

          Nominations for the Retail Produce Manager Awards Program may be downloaded onlineand must be received by February 1, 2010. 

"This program presents a tremendous opportunity for retailers, and produce companies who work closely with retail companies, to submit nominations as a way of recognizing store-level produce managers who excel in their role," said Victoria Backer, United Fresh senior vice president of member services, foundation.

Click herefor more information, including selection criteria and a list of winners since 2005 or contact Victoria Backer, United Fresh senior vice president, member services, foundation at vbacker@unitedfresh.orgor 202-303-3400 ext. 408.

The 2009 Retail Produce Manager Award winners included:

• Richard Bixler, Brookshire Grocery Co., Sweetwater, TX
• Fernando Bovadilla, Nob Hill Foods, Raley’s Family of Fine Stores, Mountain View, CA
• Elden Cave, Food Lion, LLC, Dobson, NC
• Malinda Cleveland, Bashas' Dine' Market, Window Rock, AZ
• Nan Day, NAS Lemoore Commissary, Lemoore, CA
• Ronald Flosi, Jewel-Osco, Chicago, IL
• Uziel Galvez, Safeway Stores, Inc., Hood River, OR
• Humberto Gonzalez, Ralphs, Los Angeles, CA
• Dustin Haney, Hy-Vee, Inc., Ankeny, IA
• Robert Hewett, Raley's Family of Fine Stores, Ukiah, CA
• Chris Hood, Brookshire Grocery Co., Tyler, TX
• Greg Hurst, Vons, San Diego, CA
• Ron Inatomi, Gelson’s Market, Newport Beach, CA
• Paula Lucas, Colemans Food Centre, Stephenville, NL, Canada
• Jeff Mallory, Hy-Vee, Inc., Olathe, KS
• Robert Oare, The Kroger Co., Mount Vernon, OH
• Frank Owens, Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., Fairhope, AL
• Lequitte Perry, Food City, Louisa, KY
• Abraham Ramirez, Raley's Family of Fine Stores, Benicia, CA
• Donald Rich, Price Chopper Supermarkets/Golub Corp., Burlington, VT
• John Smith, Brookshire Grocery Co., Ruston, LA
• George Tataris, Dominick’s, Park Ridge, IL
• Scott Theisen, Blue Goose Market, St. Charles, IL
• Timothy Tremblay, Hannaford Bros. Company, Scarborough, ME
• Brett Warfield, Save Mart, Sonora, CA

The United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Awards Program is generously sponsored by Ready Pac Foods, Inc.