Produce Clerk Bryce Eakes, #1244, Ooltewah, Tennessee, brings purpose and passion to his role in produce — especially when it comes to reducing waste.

Since joining Publix in 2021 as a grocery clerk, Bryce has steadily grown his career, moving to produce in 2023 with aspirations of one day becoming a store manager. His dedication to doing the right thing every day and preventing waste has earned him recognition as a My Publix, My Part difference maker.

“Every difference maker task is important, but it’s an honor to be recognized for not wasting product because that is something that affects every associate and every customer on such a big level,” Bryce said.

Being conscious of resources allows Publix to increase profitability and support our mission to be intolerant of waste.

“My team and I work hard every day to avoid wasting product,” said Bryce. “One of my favorite examples of this is during berry season, when we sometimes get up to 100 cases of strawberries a day. Each package is carefully inspected while stocking, and if there is any spoilage, we work hard to remove the bad ones and rework the product to give the unaffected berries a chance to sell.”

Bryce also takes a proactive approach to ordering, aiming to eliminate backstock by the end of each shift. His goal is to ensure that all products are available on the sales floor to meet customer demand without creating excess inventory or waste.

Through his actions, Bryce shows how small choices can lead to meaningful impacts, making him a My Publix, My Part difference maker.