Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards

2024 Winners Announced!

The Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards Program pays special tribute to chefs and foodservice operations for their produce innovation, creativity, and all-around excellence in their use and promotion of fresh fruit and vegetables in the culinary arts. Celebrate with our winners in July at the Foodservice Conference. 

Thank you to our Program Sponsor: 

The nine winning chefs, and an accompanying corporate executive, receive:

• Complimentary roundtrip airfare and registration to IFPA's Foodservice Conference, July 25-26 in Monterey, CA
• Two nights of hotel accommodations
• Recognition on stage at the Foodservice Conference

Selection Criteria

A panel of produce foodservice experts evaluated nominees on the following criteria:

• Creativity in using fresh produce in concept development and menu design, including the ability to incorporate produce into culinary trends
• Knowledge and use of proper fresh produce handling procedures
• Produce-related outreach or special events, such as community service projects, local educational outreach, etc.
• Recognition among peers and/or by their company, such as awards, additional responsibilities, and training

About the Categories

Business and Industry – This category recognizes chefs who regularly serve a company’s employees and guests. This might include an employee cafeteria or a corporate dining room and administrative catering where produce is used to create great cuisine and impress clients. Nominees in this category must operate in an establishment that offers regular/daily foodservice catering.

Casual & Family Dining Restaurants – This category includes sit-down restaurants with a casual atmosphere. Casual dining restaurants may provide table service (i.e. waiter/waitress service) to patrons who order and are served while they are seated and pay after eating, or provide buffet-style service.

Colleges & Universities – This category includes chefs who are in charge of dining services for a college or university. This might include cafeteria-style service for students, on-campus quick-service concepts or more formal dining concepts and special event catering where produce is used to create great cuisine and impress campus visitors. Nominees in this category must operate in a college or university setting that offers regular/daily foodservice operations.

Fine Dining Restaurants – This category includes “white tablecloth” restaurants that, most typically, serve prepared food for lunch and dinner, or dinner only. Full table service is provided in a formal setting, and the meal is served by wait staff.

Hospitals & Healthcare – This category includes hospitals or other healthcare facilities, such as senior living or long term care facilities. They likely serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the properties may never “close.” Patients/guests are often present for several days, and menus might vary frequently.

Hotels & Resorts – This category includes hotels (independent and chain), as well as resort properties. This might include chefs in charge of property restaurant concepts, special event catering and room service menus.

K-12 School Foodservice -This category includes public, private, parochial and charter schools for primary and/or secondary students (K-12). Responsibilities likely include oversight of a school district’s cafeteria menus for breakfast and/or lunch, purchasing and distribution, as well as for other school-related meals and events.

Quick Service Restaurants – This category includes establishments primarily engaged in providing foodservice (including snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars) where patrons generally order or select items and pay before eating. Food and drink may be consumed on premises, taken out or delivered.

Supermarkets & Retail Operators – This category includes establishments that primarily sell food and grocery items to customers, but who also offer foodservice options that patrons can consume in the store or take out. This might include an onsite restaurant or café, salad and prepared food bars, and/or a grab & go/prepared meals section.