Chairman's Reception and Annual Awards Banquet

Following dinner, join the produce industry in honoring the winners of the 2008 Retail Produce Manager Award and the Produce Excellence in Foodservice Award.  We invite you to honor these leaders of today and tomorrow.  You can read about it the next day, or you can experience the excitement and industry camaraderie first-hand in Las Vegas! 

We'll also present the 2008 United Fresh Technical Award, which honors an individual United Fresh member who has made significant technical contributions to the overall fresh produce industry.  Join us to find out who will receive this prestigious honor!

The Chairman’s Reception & Annual Awards Banquet is included in the All-Access Pass.  Attire for this special event is business attire.

MEET THE 2008 RETAIL PRODUCE MANAGER AWARD WINNERS

Join us at the Annual Awards Banquet on May 6 at Bally’s Hotel where we will honor the winners of this year’s United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Award and pay special recognition to those on the front line in supermarkets working every day to increase sales and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.  The retail produce community and the produce industry will be there to honor the 2008 Retail Produce Manager Award Winners:

The 2008 Retail Produce Manager Award Winners are:

• Robert Cardwell, Raley's, Fairfield, CA
• Gary Clay, Raley's, Santa Rosa, CA
• Kevin Colligan, Brookshire Grocery Co., Lafayette, LA
• Terry Cox, Foodtown Supermarket, Lambertville, MI
• Eddie Duncan, Food Lion, LLC, Gate City, VA
• Todd Fenton, Safeway, Inc., Seaside, OR
• Brian Gabb, Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., Chalmette, LA
• Jake Harding, Hy Vee, Inc., Omaha, NE
• Neil Hartley, Harris Teeter Supermarkets, Kill Devil Hills, NC
• Angela Hopson, K-VA-T Foods, Big Stone Gap, VA
• Amy Kirk, Safeway, Inc., University Place, WA
• Mark Leung, Smith's Food & Drug Stores, Midvale, UT
• Harry Lewis, Luke AFB Commissary, Glendale, AZ
• Paul Lopez, Vons, Paso Robles, CA
• David Meier, Safeway, Inc., Auburn, CA
• James Molloy, Hannaford Bros. Co., Nashua, NH
• John Monahan, Price Chopper Supermarkets/Golub Corporation, Marlborough, MA
• Ken Peche, BKT Sentry Foods, Wakesha, WI
• Greg Reinhart, Hy Vee, Inc., Marshall, MN
• Nancy Riekena, The Kroger Co., Peoria, IL
• Julie Rodriguez, Smith’s Food & Drug Stores, Bozeman, MT
• Bernard Rogers, Jewel Osco, DeKalb, IL
• John Schwenk, Bristol Farms, Newport Beach, CA
• Richard Thompson, Meijer, Okemos, MI
• Ismael Vela, Wal Mart Stores Inc., Edinburg, TX

The 2008 Retail Produce Manager Award Program is sponsored by Ready Pac, Inc.

While only a few of the many thousands of produce managers across the country can be recognized through this program, United Fresh salutes every produce manager working on the front lines of our industry to promote the sale of fresh fruits and vegetables and the better health of their customers.  This program honors all of their efforts and serves to promote role models of excellence across our industry.

NEW!  PRODUCE EXCELLENCE IN FOODSERVICE AWARDS

The new United Fresh Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards honors chefs and/or companies for their use of fresh produce in the culinary arts. Join us on May 6 at Bally’s Hotel for our Annual Awards Banquet and meet the winners and their corporate executives.  Help us extend the produce industry’s thanks to all chefs and foodservice operations throughout the country.  The Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards are sponsored by Pro*Act LLC.

2008 Produce Excellence in Foodservice Award Winners:
     Fine Dining:
          *Chef Tony Baker, Montrio Bistro, Monterey, CA

     Casual & Family Dining:
          *Chef Reinhard Dorhuber, Elephant Bar Restaurant, La Mirada, CA

     Quick Service:
          *Chef Daniel Coudreaut, Director of Culinary Innovation, McDonald’s USA, Oak Brook, IL

     Business in Industry & Colleges:
          *Chef Jonathan Davey, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

     Hotels & Healthcare:
          *Chef JP Hagot, Peconic Landing, Greenport, NY