<p> Frieda Rapoport Caplan, Frieda’s founder, was selected as the Gold Stevie® Award winner for Lifetime Achievement in Business at the 2013 Stevie Awards for Women in Business on December 8, 2013 in New York City.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> In her acceptance speech, Caplan credited the produce managers for her business success. “51 years ago, a produce manager responded to a single consumer’s request for a Chinese Gooseberry she saw in New Zealand [which was renamed Kiwifruit]. His willingness to follow through on this shopper request was the foundation of Frieda’s Inc.,” said Caplan.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><iframe width="500" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/N0r4T-Kp2x4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> In 1962, Caplan established Freida’s Inc. on the male-dominated Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market, according to a press release. As one of the few women to own and operate a U.S. wholesale produce business, she quickly developed a reputation for buying and selling new and unusual produce specialties. Subsequently, she earned the worldwide title “Queen of Kiwi” for her success in introducing and promoting the Kiwifruit.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Caplan added, “We have since introduced more than 200 fruits and vegetables to America. We take our mission ‘to change the way America eats fruits and vegetables’ seriously. What a wonderful honor to receive the Gold Stevie Award!”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Karen Caplan, Frieda’s President and CEO and Frieda Caplan’s daughter, commented, “Back in 1960s, it was unusual to see a woman in the produce business, but that didn’t stop my mother. She saw the potential in specialty items and she went for it. It was a gutsy move, and that is what makes her such an inspiration for women in business.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Congratulations on this amazing achievement and award, Frieda!</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.stevieawards.com/pubs/women/awards/414_2252_24145.cfm" target="_new"> 2013 Stevie Awards for Women in Business </a></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">
