Each year, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) hosts the annual Retail Produce Manager Awards. The program recognizes the top 20 produce managers within the industry and selects five overall Produce Manager of the Year grand-prize winners. 

Dusty Bilbrey, produce manager for the Food City in Sevierville, TN was named a Produce Manager of the Year grand-prize winner. Bilbrey received the award earlier this month at the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in Atlanta, GA.

“The entire Food City family is very proud of Dusty’s accomplishments, and we would like to congratulate him on this well-deserved honor. Dusty is a tremendous asset to our company and the community as a whole. He is dedicated to providing our customers with the best service, quality, and variety, while promoting the many health benefits of eating fresh produce,” says Joe Greene, Food City vice president of produce operations.

IFPA recognizes produce managers for “their dedication to boosting fresh produce sales, innovative merchandising, community service and customer satisfaction.” The winners are selected from hundreds of nominations submitted throughout the retail industry. 

Bilbrey is passionate about serving his customers, having worked his way through the ranks from a courtesy clerk to his current position as Produce Manager.  He is committed to educating and promoting the health benefits of eating fresh produce through the Fruits & Veggies More Matters and My Plate campaigns. Bilbrey is an avid supporter of Food City’s locally grown produce initiative, which supports a number of local growers and also excels at promoting Food City’s organic line of produce. He has an amazing ability to cross merchandise complimentary items throughout the store and often uses his merchandising skills to draw attention to new crop items. Bilbrey operates a strong sampling program, with an emphasis on organic and locally grown items, while sharing nutritional information on the benefits of eating healthy. He has been instrumental in helping open and merchandise several new store locations for the company and currently serves as the back-up Produce Supervisor for his district. Bilbrey is also active within his local community, working with the youth at his church, helping feed those in need during the holidays, conducting weekly visits with elderly patients in nursing care facilities, and providing support to the Sevier County Food Ministry through his role at Food City. He has been recognized for his outstanding commitment to the community by Food City’s Claude Varney Volunteerism Awards from 2018 through 2022 and received the 2021 Award of Excellence and 2018 Best Customer Research Award for Sevier County. Bilbrey is also a dedicated father.

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 157 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia, and Alabama.