Lettuce introduce you

There’s a fresh face in the produce aisle. Durango Natural Foods recently announced a new general manager, Tsewang “Sherpa” Sherpalama. Coming to the local co-op with 30 years of experience, Sherpalama will be at the Durango Farmers’ Market/DNF booth from 9 a.m. – 12 noon this Sat., Oct. 15 to meet and greet.

Sherpa, as he is known, is familiar with food co-ops and has worked most recently as general manager at Fort Collins’ Food Cooperative and at Rising Tide Coop in Damariscotta, Maine.

Since 1982, he has worked as store manager at Whole Foods Market in SoHo, NYC; as director of operations at Healthy Pleasures Market in NYC; and as store manager of Mrs. Green’s Market in Westchester, N.Y.

“We are so pleased and feel that Sherpa’s background, food co-ops management experience and his personal style will be a great asset to DNF Co-op and our community,” DNF Board President Dan Randolph said in a news release.

In addition to his experience in the organic grocery realm, Sherpa also served as president of the Association of Nepalis in the Americas as well as the United Sherpa Association. He is also the recipient of numerous accolades, including being recognized for “promoting humanity through music” in 2012 by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In 2009, the Asian American Coalition designated Sherpalama as a recipient of the Hall of Fame award for “exceptional civic and cultural contribution.”

Image caption: Sherpalama, aka “Sherpa.”