Our Story

gooseberries & gumption

Grace, stick-to-itiveness, and a desire to do the right thing made our late, trailblazing founder as unique as the produce she sold. When Frieda first introduced the Chinese Gooseberry to the U.S. in 1962 people thought she was crazy. With a nod to the fuzzy bird from New Zealand she renamed it the “Kiwifruit,” and the rest they say is history. You can now find Kiwifruit in almost every supermarket, along with countless other exotic fruits and vegetables Frieda’s has introduced over the years. To learn more about how we’ve helped transform American cuisine, check out our documentary.

Our Story

gooseberries & gumption

Grace, stick-to-itiveness, and a desire to do the right thing made our late, trailblazing founder as unique as the produce she sold. When Frieda first introduced the Chinese Gooseberry to the U.S. in 1962 people thought she was crazy. With a nod to the fuzzy bird from New Zealand she renamed it the “Kiwifruit,” and the rest they say is history. You can now find Kiwifruit in almost every supermarket, along with countless other exotic fruits and vegetables Frieda’s has introduced over the years. To learn more about how we’ve helped transform American cuisine, check out our documentary.

Introduced to the United States by Frieda’s

1962

Kiwifruit

1965

Sunchokes®

1972

Jicama

1975

Spaghetti Squash

1983

Starfruit

1994

Dragonfruit

2011

Ghost Peppers

2012

Stokes Purple® Sweet Potatoes

2019

Lemonade Lemons

2022

Quick Fires® Shishito Peppers Side Dish Kits

OUR FOUNDER

frieda, a produce icon


Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan became the first woman in the U.S. to own and operate a produce company on the all-male L.A. Wholesale Produce Market in the spring of 1962. She began with buying and selling unusual items (at the time) like brown mushrooms, Sunchokes® and spaghetti squash. She then imported the first load of fuzzy, brown kiwifruit from New Zealand (originally named Chinese gooseberries), kick-starting her lifelong career of introducing over 200 fruits and vegetables to American supermarkets. Up until 2019, Frieda still came into the office four days a week. Frieda passed away in her Los Alamitos home on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at the age of 96.

OUR CULTURE

dare to be different


Just like our products, we’re different. We like to zig when others zag. We don’t see obstacles. We work hard, play fair and laugh a lot. We’re bold. We take pride in helping people eat healthier. We’ve always been a female-founded business operating in a male-dominated industry. We love challenges. And we refuse to be ordinary. Sound like you? See how you can join our team here.

Our Brand Promise

inspire. taste. love.

At Frieda’s Branded Produce, we embrace our inner weird. We make unusual produce approachable. We show people how to use it, enjoy it, and why the unusual creates some of the best, most memorable food experiences. Ever wonder what the heck a limequat is? A mangosteen? A rambutan? A kumquat? Can a lemon really be pink? What makes turmeric a mighty miracle? Our bright, colorful, and welcoming branded packaged produce shares recipes and tips so you know how to prepare and eat them to make your next meal colorful, healthy, and delicious. After all, weird is a side effect of awesome. Find Frieda’s Branded Produce now at a retailer near you.

Our Commitment

sharing & caring

Caring for our environment and our community is the least we can do seeing as how it has given so much to us. It’s why we’re so driven to reduce our carbon footprint and partner with farmers who hold themselves to the highest standards for sustainability and food safety. Our weekly donations to local food banks help fight hunger in our community. And our contributions to programs like the Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship Program and Earth University are paving the way for the future generation. Whether it’s for the planet or the people, at Frieda’s, we’re all in.  

Our Mission