The Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship Program was established to expand opportunities for representatives from family businesses to attend United's Washington Public Policy Conference, the produce industry's premier political advocacy event.

Congratulations to our 2011 Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship winners:

Barbara Jo Daly,  Testa Produce, Inc. Chicago, Illinois	Tami Martin, Black Gold Grand Forks, North Dakota
John J. Pandol, Pandol Bros., Inc. Delano, California	Micah Desmond, Northeast Packaging Co. Presque Isle, Maine

Each scholarship recipient will receive complimentary airfare, hotel, and registration to attend the 2011 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. To learn more about 2011 scholarship program, click here.

The Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship Program was established in 2001 through a generous grant from Frieda's, Inc. by Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins in honor of their mother, Frieda. The program, administered through the United Fresh Foundation, is designed to increase family business' involvement in government relations and produce industry advocacy. Each year up to four scholarships are awarded to employees of United Fresh member, family-owned businesses, to attend the Washington Public Policy Conference.

"As a first time attendee to the Washington Public Policy Conference, I quickly learned how important it is that we all have a voice in Capitol Hill. This is the perfect opportunity to express our concerns to lawmakers and federal agencies, to ensure that the interests of family-owned produce companies are taken into account."
- Chelsea McClarty Ketelsen, HMC Marketing (2010 Scholarship Recipient)

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

2010 Scholarship Recipients
Chelsea McClarty, HMC Farms, Kingsburg, CA
Kiley Harper-Larsen, Hugh Branch, Inc., Pahokee, FL
Ben Rice, Rice Fruit Company , Gardners, PA
Mark Stevenson, Meijer, Grand Rapids, MI

2009 Scholarship Recipients
Megan Chedwick, Church Brothers, Salinas, Calif
Julia Inestroza, Gourmet Trading Company, Los Angeles, Calif.
Nicholas Mascari, Indianapolis Fruit Company, Indianapolis, Ind.
David Scaroni, Valley Harvesting and Packing, Heber, Calif.

2008 Scholarship Recipients
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 Scholarship Recipients
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 Scholarship Recipients
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 Scholarship Recipients
Frederic M. Recchiuti, Basciani Mushroom Farms, Avondale, PA
Elizabeth Gross, Capurro Marketing, LLC, Moss Landing, CA

2004 Scholarship Recipients
Anne Turkal, MCL Distributing, Los Angeles, CA
Sarah Frey Talley, Frey Produce, LLC, Keenes, IL

2003 Scholarship Recipients
Ashley Patricio, Westside Produce, Firebaugh, CA
Wes Liefer, West-Lake Produce, Los Angeles, CA

2002 Scholarship Recipients
Phil Herbig, Wes-Pak Sales, Dinuba, CA
Chad Szutz's, A-W Produce Company, Weslaco, TX

2001 Scholarship Recipients
Ron Fode, Fode Farms, Moses Lake, WA
Cecilia Tudor, Tudor Ranch, Mecca, CA

For more information about the Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship Program, contact United's Education Manager Shannon Youngat 202-303-3405.