Chef-restaurateur George Mavrothalassitis is in Las Vegas yesterday readying to accept an Produce Excellence in Foodservice Award from the United Fresh Research Education Foundation, a trade organization that promotes the use of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables through education and research.

Chef Mavro and his restaurant of the same name are being honored in the fine dining category, one of five divisions. His publicist wife, Donna Jung, said Aurora Saulo, a food science professor at the University of Hawai'i, nominated the chef. Saulo had dined at the restaurant and also joined a farm tour with Mavro.

"Fresh is what we are all about," said the elated chef. "We don't even have a freezer. Our refrigerators are empty each morning waiting for the market to arrive at our back door."

Other winners include:

-- business in industry and colleges, Glenn Pruden, exective chef, dining services, and Bettie Clarke, director of residential dining, University of Richmond, Va.

-- casual and family dining, William Fuller, corporate chef, Big Burrito, Pittsburgh, Pa.

-- quick service, Chick-fil-A, Inc., Atlanta, Ga.

--hotels and healthcare, Miles McMath, executive chef, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tenn and Kvein Door, corproate chef, Morrison Management

Specialists.

The awards will be presented Thursday.