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The United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Awards Program pays special recognition to those on the front line in supermarkets working everyday to increase sales and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. United Fresh is proud to extend the produce industry's thanks to outstanding supermarket produce managers!

In 2012, 25 winning produce managers AND their corporate produce directors will receive FREE:

• Roundtrip airfare to and from Dallas for the United Fresh 2012 convention, co-located with FMI and AMI
• All Access Registration to the convention
• Two nights lodging at the Crowne Plaza Dallas
• Recognition at the United Fresh Annual Awards Banquet
• Five Grand Prize Winners will be announced in Dallas - each receiving $1,000!

“This program has provided an exceptional opportunity to honor our superstar produce managers who are making a difference for our company. At Price Chopper, we’ve made the nomination process a company-wide initiative, encouraging everyone from store managers to senior executives to nominate their favorite produce manager.”
- Keith Frosceno, Vice President, Produce Merchandising, Price Chopper/Golub Corporation

Click here to download the complete 2012 nomination brochure.

BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION
The Retail Produce Manager Awards Program is an opportunity for industry and supermarket management to honor managers who are making a difference and setting the standards of excellence in the produce department.

Here are just a few reasons to nominate a produce manager:

• Companies can salute exceptional managers who are the industry’s front line to the consumer
• Outstanding associates are recognized at no cost!
• Raise the bar within your own company, with employees vying for this prestigious recognition
• Produce companies can recognize key customers
• Winners further their produce knowledge by participating in educational workshops, engaging with industry leaders, and learning about the newest products at the United Fresh convention
• Winning supermarkets are recognized as produce leaders, with Produce Directors also receiving complimentary registration and travel to United Fresh 2012 to share in the honor

“This program allowed me to see the other side of the produce industry and learn so much beyond the store. Receiving this award and attending the convention makes me want to work that much harder to achieve my career goals! I still can't believe I received this honor!”
- 2011 Winner Craig Docherty, Vons, Las Vegas, NV

How to Nominate a Manager

The nomination period for the 2012 program is now closed.  Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination!  Winners will be announced prior to the United Fresh 2012 convention.

Nominations for the 2013 program will open later this year. 

Selection Criteria
Nominations will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Commitment to customer satisfaction and promotion of fresh produce
• Innovative merchandising, special displays and sampling programs, such as participation in Fruits & Veggies: More Matters and MyPlate campaigns, commodity promotions and more
• Produce-related community service or outreach, such as adopt-a-school programs, school tours, community service projects and more
• Recognition among company peers

Companies may nominate multiple store produce managers. Former winners are not eligible.

While only a few of the many thousands of produce managers country can be recognized through this program, United Fresh salutes every produce manager working on the front lines of our industry to promote the sale of fresh fruits and vegetables and the better health of their customers. This program honors all of their efforts and serves to promote role models of excellence across our industry.

“Thank you for this experience. It was a privilege and an honor to represent the thousands of produce managers out there who battle everyday to get the job done. This is an experience that will surely be remembered!”
- 2011 Winner Michael Crutchfield, Save Mart, Angels Camp, CA

For more information or questions about the Retail Produce Manager Awards Program, please contact Shannon Young, Education Manager at United Fresh Produce Association.

Congratulations to our 2012 Winners:

• Leslie Alex, Hannaford Brothers, Dover, NH
• Ricky Allemand, Brookshire Grocery Company, New Iberia, LA
• John Ballard, Food City/K-VA-T Food Stores, Lafollete, TN
• Mathew K. Blair, Price Chopper/Golub Corporation, Cicero, NY
• Phil Burgess, Safeway Stores, Bend, OR
• Brian Burrow, Brookshire Grocery Company, Whitehouse, TX
• Franklin Bys, Hy-Vee, Inc., Coralville, IA
• James Campbell, Sunflower Farmers Market, Denver, CO
• Brian Collegnon, Rueben’s County Market , Hartford, WI
• Corey Conrad, Colemans Food Centres, Corner Brook, NFL, Canada
• Brian Corbitt, Bel Air Market/Raley’s Family of Fine Stores, Sacramento, CA
• Jolene Cyr, Food Maxx/Save Mart Supermarkets, Fairfield, CA
• Ron Danielson, Raley’s Family of Fine Stores, Woodland, CA
• Chad Faulk, Harris Teeter, Charlotte, NC
• John Heon, Big Y Foods, Lee, MA
• Rich Jackson, Quality Food Centers, Sammamish, WA
• Steve Kaminski, Jewel-Osco, Westmont, IL
• Charmagne Kendrick, VG's Food Center/Spartan Stores, Fenton, MI
• Jim Kesteloot, Harris Teeter, Reston, VA
• Michael Kolek, Jewel-Osco, Schaumburg, IL
• Brian Langdon, The Kroger Company, Cincinnati, OH
• Mike McElmeel, Hy-Vee, Inc., Silvis, IL
• Elizabeth Myers, New River MCAS Commissary, Jacksonville, NC
• Wanda Ivy Nicholas, Travis Air Force Base Commissary, Travis, CA
• Nick Puleo, Vons, San Diego, CA

The Retail Produce Manager Award Program was established in 2005 and has been sponsored by Ready Pac Produce since its inception.  Click on the links below to learn about past winners:

2011 Award Winners
2010 Award Winners
2009 Award Winners
2008 Award Winners
2007 Award Winners
2006 Award Winners
2005 Award Winners