Superfresh Growers is proud to announce Aaron Arndt as the 2015 Employee of the Year.. Aaron is the Production Manager of our Low Road Warehouse and oversees all aspects of the production line from sorting, packing and bagging to sanitation and quality control. He thoroughly enjoys his role of efficiently continuing the apples journey from orchard to market, to be both rewarding and inspiring.
Aaron has been part Superfresh Growers since 2012, but hadn’t always seen himself working in the fruit industry. Growing up on a Central Washington hobby farm of apples, pears and cherries, Aaron spent his youth helping his parents out by stapling tags on bins of fruit, bringing pickers lunch and handing out paychecks. After high school, Aaron took a step away from fruit to pursue his passion of sports, and graduated in 2003 from Washington State University with a degree in Sports Management. He was the assistant General Manager for the minor league Yakima Bears baseball team from 2004-2011. When the Bears moved to a new city, Aaron decided to stay in his hometown, near family. His decision and timing could not have been better; Kershaw Fruit was just building a new production plant and they needed someone with Aaron’s talents.
Aaron now runs a team of over 120 employees packing the best quality boxes and delivering the best returns for Kershaw’s growers, while maintaining a safe and delicious product for consumers. “Aaron is an example for everyone that hard work, passion, intelligence and leadership will trump experience every time,” describes Robert Kershaw,CEO of Superfresh Growers. “Aaron is the type of person we look for at Superfresh Growers.” In 2015 Aaron implemented a new food safety and sanitation program, bringing us to a new level as leaders of food safety in the fruit industry. Under Aaron’s management, our Low Road warehouse has broken historical company records this year by packing over 150,000 bins of fruit.
When not at work, Aaron enjoys hanging out with his girlfriend, Trudy, brother Broc, and his one-eyed Boston terrier, Ace. He also enjoys fly fishing, football, baseball, boxing and cooking. Aaron is a huge Seahawks fan and goes to games in Seattle whenever possible. Earlier this spring, his brother surprised him with a trip to Las Vegas to watch Aaron’s favorite boxer, Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s last fight. This was a once in a lifetime experience he won’t soon to forget.
Aaron would like to thank the Kershaw family and Rob Conrad for investing time, energy and faith in him. “I didn’t know apples from watermelon when I started,” Aaron said. After three years as part of the Superfresh community, Aaron has become an integral part of the company’s success. Congratulations Aaron Arndt, winner of this year’s Employee of the Year!
