Frieda Caplan, founder of Frieda’s Inc., is a pioneer in wholesale produce.

[Loomis, Rick — B582247814Z.1 LOS ALAMITOS, CA. — MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012 — Frieda Rapoport Caplan started her business Frieda’s by selling exotic fruits and vegetables at a downtown Los Angeles market in 1962 and moved her business to its current location in Los Alamitos in 1994. Her company sells to places like Von’s, Ralph’s and Trader Joe’s. She is pictured among horned melons from New Zealand, baby pineapples from South Africa and kiwi from New Zealand. Caplan is the founder and CEO of the company. ( Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times )] *** []