Sam Skolnick

Sam Skolnick was a one-of-a-kind player in the frozen fruit commodity business and he brought to the table some unique talents and insights that will surely be missed and, possibly, never replaced.

Sam was, above all things, a bold risk taker. He was a tireless teacher. He freely gave information and advice to all who asked, customer and competitor alike. Many of us owe much of our understanding of the industry to Sam. 

He was a major player in Michigan fruits, Northwest berries and California and Mexican strawberries. He supplied financing for packers, suppliers and customers; bankrolled start-ups and lent money and a sympathetic ear to those who were down on their luck. 

He served as a major moderating force in markets by balancing supply and demand by taking early, late or sometimes unpopular positions. He knew instinctively how to make money and he knew how to lose money and bounce back. His flirtation with risk was based on his incredible and far-ranging analysis of markets, supply and demand, sales and marketing and the ever-fickle forces that motivate both buyers and sellers. 

He was born in Bucharest, Romania, 1921. His family moved to the USA in 1922 and his first home was in Brooklyn, NY. His family established a grocery store and someone in the family who had a knack for making jams and jellies began to produce a small amount of these items for sale to their regular customers. In a relatively short time, this grew to be far bigger than the grocery store and Fruitcrest Preserve Company started in 1938, run by the senior Skolnick with his sons, David and Sam.

At an early age, Sam was involved in the manufacturing side of the fruit game which gave him considerable insight into supply and demand and sources of product. In 1957, Sam decided to establish his own brokerage or sales organization and Imperial Frozen Foods was formed. Sam's analysis of markets, supply and demand and sales direction made Imperial a rapid success and a leader in its field.

Sam Skolnick passed away on Sunday, October 10, 1994.