<p><strong>Washington D.C.-</strong><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The United Fresh Produce Association has announced it will honor Frieda Rapoport Caplan with a Lifetime Achievement Award during its 2013 Winter Leadership Meetings this January in Tucson, AZ. The award recognizes individuals for a lifetime of achievement and for lasting contributions to the fresh produce industry.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> In 1962, Frieda Caplan established Frieda's Finest/Produce Specialties, Inc. on the male-dominated Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market. At that time, Caplan was one of the first women to own and operate a U.S. produce business. She debuted with a purple sign, which later became the company's signature color, and her premier product was fresh brown mushrooms - an unusual specialty at that time. She quickly developed a reputation for buying and selling new and unusual produce specialties.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Caplan's marketing abilities were recognized worldwide after her success in introducing and promoting the Kiwifruit in the United States, earning her the title, "Queen of Kiwi." Her ability to create consumer demand for unusual foods has helped Caplan and her daughters make success stories out of many more items, including Sugar Snap Peas(TM), Hothouse Cucumbers, Habanero Chiles and Kiwano(R) Melons.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Today, Caplan continues to serve as Chairman of the Board of Frieda's, Inc, working with her daughters Karen Caplan, president and CEO, and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, vice president and chief operating officer, to lead the company. Frieda's recently marked the addition of the third generation to the company, with Frieda's granddaughter, Alex, joining the marketing team at the company.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Throughout Caplan's career she has received countless awards from the industry and larger business community. These accolades include The Packer's 1979 "Produce Marketer of the Year" award, the Harriet Alger Award from Working Woman magazine, Los Angeles Times recognition as one of the top 12 California business persons in the 1980's (along with Michael Eisner and Jane Fonda), and the 2012 Legacy Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">"Frieda Caplan truly is the model for a Lifetime Achievement Award in the produce industry," stated United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel. "From the very start she epitomized the classic produce entrepreneur, always pushing forward as a progressive marketer, savvy business personality, and as a leader in our industry. And while Frieda has been a longtime role-model for women in produce, she stands out as a role-model for anyone in our industry."<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Based in Los Alamitos, California, Frieda's Inc. is celebrating its 50th year as a premier markeer and distributor of specialty produce, today supplying grocery retailers and foodservice distributors with more than 600 varieties of exotics fruits, gourmet vegetables and unique companion items.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">"I am honored and a bit overwhelmed with this award. But I have to say that my greatest success and joy is that I get to work every day alongside my two daughters and one of my grandchildren. Everyone in business should be so lucky," stated Frieda Caplan.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.unitedfresh.org" target="_new"> United Fresh </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
