Seven of the country’s most exciting chefs and foodservice professionals representing an array of culinary styles and backgrounds will be honored this June as part of the United Fresh Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards Program. Sponsored by PRO*ACT LLC, and now in its eighth year, the program honors chefs and their companies for their innovative and influential use of fresh produce in the culinary arts. Winners will be honored guests at the United Fresh 2015 convention and trade show, June 8‐10 in Chicago.
“Year after year, these honorees continue to impress us with their creativity and ingenuity,” said PRO*ACT President Max Yeater. “We are so proud to be a sponsor of the Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards and we thank all of the nominees and all of the chefs who dedicate their efforts to increase the consumption of healthy fresh fruits and vegetables.”
“These seven winners have created extraordinary dishes featuring fresh fruits and vegetables as mainstays on their menus. We are proud to honor them for the important role that they play in showcasing our industry and introducing their customers to fruit and vegetable trends and new products,” said United Fresh CEO Tom Stenzel. “We appreciate their tremendous commitment and recognize PRO*ACT’s generous support in honoring these winners and their positive impact on our nation’s dining habits.”
The 2015 Produce Excellence in Foodservice Award winners are:
Business in Industry:
Chef Tim Galligher, Executive Chef at Sodexo – Blue Cross Blue Shield, Omaha, NE
Casual & Family Dining Restaurants:
Chef Ype Von Hengst, Executive Chef & Co‐Founder, Silver Diner, Rockville, MD
Colleges & Universities:
Chef Bob Patton, Executive Chef, Aramark – Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
Fine Dining Restaurants:
Chef Tony Marchetto, Chef Owner/Proprietor, Prasino’s, St. Charles, MO
Hotels & Healthcare:
Chef Rick Laughlin, Chef de Cuisine, Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, FL
K‐12 School Foodservice:
Brenda Robinson, Director of Nutrition Services, Bakersfield City School District, Bakersfield, CA
Quick Service Restaurants:
Chef Erik Roth, Executive Chef, TownHall, Cleveland, OH
These winners were selected from more than 130 nominations submitted by produce companies and foodservice operations across North America. A panel of produce and foodservice industry leaders reviewed each nominee’s incorporation of fresh produce into menu development, use of food safety protocols for proper storage and handling of produce, leadership in produce related community service and special events and recognition by their company and industry peers.
The winners, along with an executive from their company, will attend United Fresh 2015 in Chicago. They also will be featured in a panel discussion on the United Fresh 2015 trade show floor in the Fresh Marketplace Learning Center, Wednesday, June 10 from 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Co‐located with FMI Connect 2015 and the International Floriculture Expo, United Fresh 2015 will bring together retail, fresh produce and floral leaders who are searching for unique products and looking to enhance relationships with valuable business partners. Registration is available at www.unitedfreshshow.org.
For more information about the Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards Program, contact Miriam Wolk, Vice President, Member Services, at 202‐303‐3410 or mwolk@unitedfresh.org. United Fresh will start accepting nominations for 2016 beginning this fall, with winners to be honored at United Fresh 2016 in Chicago.
