Each year, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) hosts the annual Retail Produce Manager Awards. The program recognizes the top produce managers within the industry during their Global Produce & Floral Show. Joshua Combs, produce manager for the Food City in Galax, VA was named among this year’s winners.

“We would like to congratulate Joshua on this well-deserved honor. He is a tremendous asset to our company and the community as a whole. Joshua is dedicated to providing our customers with the best service, quality, and variety, while promoting the many health benefits of eating fresh produce,” says Bucky Slagle, Food City vice president of produce operations.

IFPA recognizes produce managers for ‘their commitment to fresh produce, innovative merchandising, community service, and customer satisfaction.’ The winners are selected from hundreds of nominations submitted throughout the retail industry.

Combs has a passion for serving his customers and promoting the health benefits of eating fresh produce through the Fruits & Veggies More Matters and My Plate campaigns, as well as his in-store sampling program. He is an avid supporter of Food City’s locally grown produce initiative, which supports a number of local growers. He has an amazing ability to cross merchandise products with other departments to promote sales and showcase produce items throughout the store. Combs has used his talents to assist with numerous store openings across his district. He is also a strong supporter of his local community, having helped develop a partnership with his local food pantry to provide food assistance to those in need throughout his community.

Combs will be recognized during the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in October, 2022 in Orlando, FL.

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 140 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia, and Alabama.