<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;line-height:130%">Washington, DC</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By Jordan Okumura<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">03.26.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>In San Diego at the United Fresh Annual Convention 2013 this May, through the United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Awards Program, twenty-five top produce managers representing 21 supermarket banners, commissaries and independent retail stores in 16 states and Canada will be honored.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The awards program in its ninth year, is sponsored by Ready Pac Foods and is presented through the Foundation’s Center for Leadership Excellence. The awards pay special recognition to those on the front-line in supermarkets working everyday to increase sales and consumption of fresh produce, according to a press release.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img class="small-cropped-image" src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacySmallCroppedImages/united032613body.jpg" alt="Images032613" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“The produce department is one of the most important customer touch points for the fresh produce industry and we are so fortunate to have these outstanding professionals positively representing our industry,” said United Fresh CEO Tom Stenzel. “Through their creative merchandising and innovative presentations, they are making fresh fruits and vegetables shine in their stores.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The 2013 Retail Produce Manager Award Winners are:</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>• Ryan Acosta, Raley's Family of Fine Stores, Sacramento, CA<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Louis Brock, Quality Food Centers, Seattle, WA<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Manson Camp, Weis Markets, Williamsport, PA<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Kevin Cazeaux, Rouses Markets, New Orleans, LA<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Lavern Clark, Brookshire Grocery Company, Alexandria, LA<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Darren Estermann, Food Maxx/Save Mart Supermarkets, Visalia, CA<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• David Fitts, Harris Teeter Supermarkets, Charlotte, NC<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Jim Fleming, Price Chopper/Golub Corporation, Newburgh, NY<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Ken Gaylord, Safeway Stores, Portland, OR<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Aaron Geohring, Ray's Food Place, Grants Pass, OR<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Donna Goodman, Daniel's Sentry Store, Whitewater, WI<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• James Gordy, Safeway Stores, Auburn, CA<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Doug Groendyke, King’s Supermarkets, Gillette, NJ<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Rick Hogan, Hugo's Family Marketplace, Grand Forks, ND<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Deborah Horton, Ft. Worth NAS Commissary, Fort Worth, TX<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Pat Kapelka, The Kroger Company, Tiffin, OH<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• James May, Food City/K-VA-T Food Stores, South Williamson, KY<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Maureen McCarthy, Ft. Bragg North Commissary, Ft. Bragg, NC<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Nathan Mineart, Hy-Vee, Inc., East Marion, IA<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Nicholas Olivieri, Pathmark, Bethpage, NY<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Bill Power, Dominion, St John’s, NFL, Canada<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Brett Reed, Hy-Vee, Inc., Windsor Heights, IA<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Frankie Thacker, Food City/K-VA-T Food Stores, Rogersville, TN<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Jeffrey Vocatura, Big Y Foods, Stratford, CT<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• Corey Watkins, Raley's Family of Fine Stores, Elk Grove, CA</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“The professionalism and exceptional talent these retail managers have demonstrated deserves to be recognized and honored,” said Ready Pac’s President and CEO, Michael Solomon. “Ready Pac is proud to sponsor this program and offer our congratulations to these hard-working individuals and companies for their tireless promotion of the fresh produce industry!”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Criteria for the award nominations included efforts to increase produce consumption through excellence in merchandising, special displays and promotions, community service and commitment to customer satisfaction.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>All winners and their corporate produce directors will be honored at United Fresh 2013 during the Produce Celebration Dinner, Thursday, May 16, at the Marriott Marquis San Diego. Five Grand Prize recipients will receive an additional $1,000 cash prize. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The Produce Retail Manager Award winners will also be featured in a panel discussion on the United Fresh 2013 trade show floor in the Fresh Marketplace Learning Center. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.unitedfreshshow.org" target="_new"> United Fresh</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
