Karen Caplan, president and CEO of Frieda’s Inc., headquartered in Los Alamitos, California, and the first female chairperson of the United Fresh Board of Directors, will be the honoree and featured speaker at the Reception Honoring Women in Produce on Tuesday, June 9, at United Fresh 2015 in Chicago.
Held each year in conjunction with the United Fresh convention and expo, the Reception Honoring Women in Produce recognizes the contributions of all women working in the produce industry and selects one woman to share her personal experience of service. The featured speaker is selected from nominations submitted by United Fresh members across the industry and reviewed by a committee of her peers, including honorees from the past 18 years.
“Karen has dedicated her career not only to the advancement of fresh produce, but she also serves as a role model for women in the business world,” said United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel. “Her engagement of women entrepreneurs and small and family-owned businesses spotlights her dedication to the success of the fresh produce industry.”
As the daughter of entrepreneur Dr. Frieda Caplan, founder of Frieda’s Inc., Karen Caplan began working with produce at age 10. Learning the business from the ground up, she has worked in just about every department at the company, from packing boxes to sales and marketing. In 1986, at age 30, Caplan was promoted to president and CEO of the company. In 1990, she and her sister, Jackie Caplan Wiggins, purchased the company from their mother. Karen Caplan’s vision and leadership propelled Frieda’s Inc. to the forefront of the produce industry as the nation’s leading marketer and distributor of specialty produce, according to United Fresh.
“It is such an honor to be selected as this year’s Women in Produce honoree, and to be nominated by my industry peers is the greatest compliment,” said Caplan. “I am inspired daily by all the women in produce who have gone before me as well as all the rising stars who will be our leaders of tomorrow.”
Caplan will join a distinguished group of past honorees that, in addition to her mother, Frieda Rapoport Caplan, includes Dan’l Mackey Almy, DMA Solutions Inc.; Tonya Antle, Tanimura & Antle; Margaret D’Arrigo, Taylor Farms Inc.; Jan DeLyser, California Avocado Commission; Jan Fleming, Strube Celery & Vegetable Co.; Janice Honigberg, Sun Belle Inc.; Lorri Koster, Mann Packing Co.; Lisa McNeece, Grimmway Enterprises Inc.; Teri Miller, Delhaize America; Kathleen Nave, California Table Grape Commission; Dr. Martha Rhodes-Roberts, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; Steffanie Smith, Colorful Harvest LLC; Heather Shavey, Costco Wholesale; Mayda Sotomayor-Kirk, Seald Sweet International; Rosemary Talley, Talley Farms; and Jenney Tenney, The Kroger Co.
Hi Karen; heard you speak at the Long Beach Cancer League’s meeting and would like an opportunity to speak with you personally,