Congratulations to our 2009 Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship winners:

The Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship Program was established to expand opportunities for representatives from family businesses to attend United Fresh's Washington Public Policy Conference, the produce industry's premier political advocacy event.  Scholarship recipients receive complimentary airfare, hotel, and registration to attend the Washington Public Policy Conference. This annual conference brings together produce leaders from all sectors of the industry to interact personally and share ideas with Administration officials, Congressional leaders, and industry colleagues.

"This scholarship program really opened my eyes to how critical it is for the produce industry to get involved and have a strong voice in Washington.  Its one thing to talk about issues impacting your business, but it’s an entirely different game to meet with your Members of Congress to make sure your views are being heard."    - Gahl Crane, Prime Produce International, 2008 scholarship recipient

The program was established in 2001 by Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, Frieda's, Inc. and is presented through the United Research & Education Foundation. Each year up to four scholarships are awarded to employees of United Fresh member, family-owned businesses, to attend the Washington Public Policy Conference. 

The application period for the 2010 program will open in Summer 2010.  For additional information or to add your name to the mailing list, contact United Fresh education coordinator Julie Jacocks. Applicants must be employed by a family business that is a United Fresh member company in good standing.

2008 Kenneth Crabtree, Pacific Coast Fruit Co., Portland, OR Gahl Crane, Prime Produce International, LLC, Orange, CA Jose Garcia, Rene Produce, LLC, Nogales, AZ Tracie Levin, M. Levin and Co., Inc., Philadelphia, PA 2007 Milas Russell III, Sandstone Marketing, Inc., Yuma, AZ Kristine Zerr, Domex Superfresh Growers, Yakima, WA Sam Stewart, Wes Pak Sales, Inc., Dinuba, CA Milton Voss, Pero Vegetable LLC., Delray Beach, FL 2006 Aaron Buurma, Buurma Farms, Inc., Willard, OH Luawanna Hallstrom, Oceanside Produce, Inc., Oceanside, CA Jason LaBarba, Ideal Sales, Inc., Dallas, TX Kari Valdés, Mills Family Farms, Salinas, CA 2005 Frederic  M. Recchiuti, Basciani Mushroom Farms, Avondale, PA Elizabeth Gross, Capurro Marketing, LLC, Moss Landing, CA 2004 Anne Turkal, MCL Distributing, Los Angeles, CA Sarah Frey Talley, Frey Produce, LLC, Keenes, IL 2003 Ashley Patricio, Westside Produce, Firebaugh, CA Wes Liefer, West-Lake Produce, Los Angeles, CA 2002 Phil Herbig, Wes-Pak Sales, Dinuba, CA Chad Szutz’s, A-W Produce Company, Weslaco, TX 2001 Ron Fode, Fode Farms, Moses Lake, WA Cecilia Tudor, Tudor Ranch, Mecca, CA