Produce Quiz Winner: Stacy Speth

Store Manager
Kodiak Commissary
Kodiak, AK

Stacy Speth loves to be outside and enjoy nature, on land or sea. She says, “Nowhere is better than Alaska for this!”

Speth has a unique job in Alaska. She is the store manager at the U.S. Armed Forces’ Commissary in Kodiak, and she oversees each department the commissary is comprised of — grocery, meat, front end, finance and produce.
“At a commissary on an island in Alaska, there are no typical days, considering weather, and especially logistics,” she says.

American military commissaries provide discounted groceries and household goods to active-duty, Reserve and Guard members of the uniformed services, retirees of these services, authorized family members, DOD civilian employees overseas and other designated categories.

Speth has been a military spouse and shopped at commissaries for more than 25 years. She also managed a small gourmet market in Virginia. “After being stationed in Kodiak with my family, I decided to change careers and joined the federal government to serve our deserving military families,” she says.

Speth says the commissary sources locally grown produce. “With the reduction in transit time, we get the freshest produce. Perishables demand the most attention to detail and are challenging.”

When she isn’t running the commissary, she makes pottery and tends to her 125-gallon saltwater aquarium. “I have always had an extensive garden while living outside of Alaska, but due to the climate, greenhouses are required for gardening here.”

When asked what she likes best about Produce Business she says, “I like to learn new things, read about different perspectives, and see if I can apply any new concepts to our business. It takes a village, as no one person can be successful alone.”

As this month’s winner, Speth will receive a $200 Amazon gift card.