LOS ALAMITOS, CALIF. (February 2011) – Karen Caplan, president and CEO of Frieda’s Inc., will be the featured speaker at the Houston Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association (HFFVA) luncheon at Brennan's of Houston on March 9. Caplan will share some of her “Secrets to Success” about working in a family business and surviving and thriving into the second and third generation. Frieda’s Inc. begins its 50th year in business on April 2.
Since 1986 Caplan has served as president and CEO of Frieda’s Inc., running the specialty produce wholesaler along with her sister, Jackie Caplan Wiggins, vice president. Their mother, Frieda Caplan, started the business in 1962 from a small produce stand at the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market. In 1990, Karen and Jackie purchased the company. Based in Los Alamitos, Calif., Frieda’s Inc. supplies specialty fruits and vegetables to supermarkets and foodservice distributors throughout North America.
Karen Caplan is well-known both within the produce industry and beyond. Caplan writes a popular blog, “What’s On Karen’s Plate,” where she posts about business, food, family and more twice each week. A role model in the fresh produce industry, Caplan served as the first female chairman of both the United Fresh Produce Association and the Los Angeles-based Fresh Produce and Floral Council. She has been interviewed in numerous publications, and made many television and radio appearances, in addition to addressing conferences and meetings as keynote speaker. Caplan earned a B.S. in agricultural economics and business management from the University of California – Davis.
Source: Frieda's Inc.
