Frieda Caplan Wins Award

Frieda Caplan, chief executive officer and chairman of Frieda’s Finest/Produce Specialties Inc. of Los Angeles, has received Working Woman magazine’s first Harriet Alger Award for Entrepreneurship. Named in memory of author Horatio Alger, the award was given in recognition of her entrepreneurial spirit, visionary leadership and position as an entrepreneurial role model for women.

Caplan has been described as “the marketing genius who galvanized the California farm industry and almost single-handedly created fruit and vegetable trends.” Her $13-million business has been built on the belief that American consumers are daring enough to try exotic produce such as baby squash, shiitake mushrooms and kiwis.