WASHINGTON, DC – With the industry almost at its halfway point to the next United Fresh show, United Fresh is already ramping up to garner its next collection of honored retail produce managers. United Fresh is now accepting nominations for its 2017 Retail Produce Manager Awards Program for its 13th year of recognizing this important buy-side appointment.
“This program is a powerful way for retailers to recognize their outstanding produce managers for their hard work and commitment to the industry,” said Greg Corrigan, Senior Director of Produce and Floral for Raley’s Family of Fine Stores and Chairman of United Fresh’s Retail-Foodservice Board. “The winning produce managers are recognized as leaders in their field and excellent representatives of the produce industry for our customers. We have made this a very important aspect of staff development at Raley’s.”
Each year, Awards Program recognizes 25 outstanding retail produce managers for their hard work in increasing the sales and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables right on the store floor.
According to a press release, the 25 award winners and their corporate produce directors will be flown to United Fresh 2017 with complimentary airfare, accommodations, and registration. The winners will be honored at the Retail-Foodservice Celebration Dinner on Thursday, June 15, where five of the award winners will also receive an additional $1,000 cash prize.
"This is Dole's third year as title sponsor of the United Fresh Produce Manager of the Year Award, and we could not be more proud to be a part of this important recognition program. These men and women do so much to promote the increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, and this gives us an opportunity to recognize that contribution and genuinely say thank you," stated Tim Stejskal, Senior Vice President of Sales for Dole Fresh Vegetables.
The 25 retail produce managers are selected and recognized for their following contributions to the retail and fresh produce industries:
- Innovative merchandising
- Produce-related community outreach
- Increased store sales
- Recognition amongst company peers
Nominations for this year’s lineup of retail produce managers are open for acceptance now, and must be received by January 6, 2017, for consideration. United Fresh 2017 will take place on June 13 to 15 in Chicago, IL.
Since the program's beginning, 280 produce managers have been recognized from over 90 different retail companies. The Retail Produce Manager Awards Program is sponsored by Dole Food Company.
For more information on the program and nomination criteria, and to view the list of past winners, visit www.unitedfresh.org/rma. Or contact Jeff Oberman for more details at [email protected], or 831-600-8922.
