<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;line-height:130%">Los Alamitos, CA </span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By Eric Anderson<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">4.2.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>April 2 is Love Your Produce Manager Day, according to Frieda’s. The national holiday began in 2012 in honor of the company’s 50th anniversary, aiming to highlight the keystone individuals of the industry: the Produce Manager.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/love-your-produce-manager-cropped.jpg" alt="APRIL 2 2013 - IMAGES" />A shopper walked into a Salt Lake City supermarket 51 years ago and asked the Produce Manager for Chinese Gooseberries or kiwifruit. The Produce Manager asked his buyer who contacted Frieda Caplan, founder of Frieda’s Specialty Produce Company, who had just received the first U.S. Shipment of Chinese Gooseberries.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/kiwifruit-cropped.jpg" alt="APRIL 2 2013 - IMAGES" />If that Produce Manager hadn’t asked, Kiwifruit might not be the well-known and loved fruit it is today.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img class="small-cropped-image" src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacySmallCroppedImages/karen-kaplan-headshot-2.jpg" alt="APRIL 2 2013 - IMAGES" />“This is what Frieda’s founder and my mother, Frieda Caplan, calls ‘the Power of One’,” said Karen Caplan, President and CEO. “Without requests from Produce Managers, shoppers may never see the variety of produce that is now considered commonly available today like Fennel, Mini Sweet Peppers, and Dragon Fruit. The conversations the Produce Managers have with consumers pave the way for us to bring to the market even more unique and exciting products like Stokes Purple® Sweet Potatoes, Kiwano® Melons, Fiore Viola Purple Artichokes, and Kale Sprouts.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">This is why Frieda’s wants to encourage shoppers everywhere to love their Produce Managers! Talk to them. Ask them about what’s in season, what tastes good. If you can’t find something, request it.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Because for Frieda’s, after 51 years, it still starts with the Produce Manager.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.friedas.com/" target="_new">Frieda’s</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
