Produce industry mourns loss of Mann Packing's Joe Nucci
Produce industry mourns loss of Mann Packing's Joe Nucci
"Home is the sailor, home from the sea, And the hunter home from the hill."
-- Robert Louis Stevenson, from his poem "Requiem"
To add to the poet's words: The produce man is home from the field. Joe Nucci died in his sleep late July 6 or early on the morning of July 7, leaving behind a loving family and a trail of friends from an industry he helped make better.
Mr. Nucci, president and chief executive officer of Salinas, CA-based Mann Packing Co. Inc., died of an undetected heart condition while vacationing with his family in Florida. He was 40 years old.
By all accounts, Mr. Nucci was not your "average Joe." Bill Ramsey and Mr. Nucci's father, Don Nucci, jointly took ownership of Mann Packing several decades ago. Joe Nucci joined the family business about a year after graduating from college and thrived in bringing his ideas to fruition and as president and CEO over the past four years or so, Mr. Ramsey said. Early in his career when Mann was new at offering broccoli florets, Joe Nucci took on the task of finding a use for the leftover broccoli stems. The result was broccoli cole slaw.
"It was Joe that put the impetus into it (broccoli coleslaw)," Mr. Ramsey said. "He was excellent in marketing."
Mr. Ramsey, who knew Mr. Nucci for all his 40 years, said that Mr. Nucci changed the company for the better. "He could have failed just as easily as not," Mr. Ramsey said. "We're very proud of his accomplishments. He's been a standout in the industry."
Mr. Ramsey said that while Mann will continue to do well as a company, "You never replace a loss like this."
Mr. Nucci served for three years on the board of directors of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, leaving the board in May. Jim Bogart, president of Grower-Shipper, said Mr. Nucci was "positive, upbeat and encouraging" and a visionary in the produce industry.
"He was a creative, proactive type," Mr. Bogart said. "That's what I'll always remember. He was a pleasure to work with and to know; it's a personal loss."
Mr. Nucci was secretary-treasurer on the board of directors of the Produce Marketing Association. He had first been on PMA's divisional board for three years, on the main board of directors for the past six or seven years and was on track to become its chairman in October 2006. PMA President Bryan Silbermann said Mr. Nucci was "always a real treat" and was forthright. "He'd sit down with board members and say things as he saw them," Mr. Silbermann said. The maturity Mr. Nucci gained in leading Mann in recent years was evident, he said.
Mr. Silbermann, who turned 50 about the time Mr. Nucci turned 40, said he found it difficult to reconcile his own accomplishments with all that Mr. Nucci had accomplished.
"Joe was always thinking about the future and how to make Mann better," Mr. Silbermann said. He noted that the late David Stidolph -- well acknowledged as a produce industry innovator -- helped spark Mr. Nucci's bent toward innovation. Years ago, Mr. Stidolph laid the groundwork for Mann's foray into carrying sweet potatoes, which became a reality recently under Mr. Nucci's leadership. Mr. Silbermann said Mr. Nucci liked to refer to himself as a "down in the dirt grower-shipper guy" and that his knowledge of growing and marketing was a dynamic combination.
Lisa McNeece, vice president of foodservice and industrial sales for Bakersfield, CA-based Grimmway Farms, said Mr. Nucci was a valued friend and a good customer for the past 15 years.
Ms. McNeece, who is on PMA's main board of directors, credited Mr. Nucci with her hooking up with PMA. "He told me how important it is to be involved," Ms. McNeece said.
Ms. McNeece said Mr. Nucci helped her build Grimmway's industrial business and was her first account in that realm. In the early days of that relationship, Grimmway used to send "one or two pallets a week" of bulk carrots to Mann; today, Grimmway sends "a truckload a day" to Mann, she said. Ms. McNeece said she's never had a contract with Mann in 15 years and that business with Mr. Nucci was transacted by handshake. "We felt our word was good enough," Ms. McNeece said. "I will miss Joe dearly."
Frank Padilla, assistant vice president of fresh foods for Costco, said Mr. Nucci was instrumental in developing specialty packs for use in Costco. The packs included elements such as wax-impregnated boxes, breathable films and membranes, and incorporated graphics and recipes.
"He (Mr. Nucci) was going in uncharted waters with Costco," Mr. Padilla said. "It was something he took on himself."
Mr. Padilla said his "personal relationship (with Mr. Nucci) was much stronger than business" and that his contracts with Mann have been "on our word." He said Mr. Nucci was "extremely responsible" and that he "was going to do what was right and what was fair."
Steve Junqueiro, vice president of operations for Modesto, CA-based Save Mart Supermarkets and PMA's chairman of the board, said Mr. Nucci "was a good friend and an incredible member of the produce industry." He said tht when he conducted business with Mr. Nucci on behalf of Save Mart, it was always "a handshake and a team effort to grow the business."
Mr. Junqueiro added, "I don't think I've ever witnessed his (Mr. Nucci's) level of participation on the PMA board."
Mr. Nucci also served with United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, Produce ror Better Health Foundation and the International Fresh-cut Produce Association. He was a volunteer with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and was active in youth sports.
Mr. Nucci leaves behind his wife, Debbie Nucci; his sons, Matthew, 11, and Michael (Milo) 5; his father, Don Nucci; his mother, Barbara Manning; and his sisters, Lorri Koster, Dee Dee Reyna and Gina Nucci.
Funeral announcements will be forthcoming from Struve and Laporte Funeral Chapel, Salinas, CA, at 831/424-0311 (www.struveandlaporte.com). Mann Packing has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ronald McDonald House at Lucille Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson, from his poem "Requiem"
To add to the poet's words: The produce man is home from the field. Joe Nucci died in his sleep late July 6 or early on the morning of July 7, leaving behind a loving family and a trail of friends from an industry he helped make better.
Mr. Nucci, president and chief executive officer of Salinas, CA-based Mann Packing Co. Inc., died of an undetected heart condition while vacationing with his family in Florida. He was 40 years old.
By all accounts, Mr. Nucci was not your "average Joe." Bill Ramsey and Mr. Nucci's father, Don Nucci, jointly took ownership of Mann Packing several decades ago. Joe Nucci joined the family business about a year after graduating from college and thrived in bringing his ideas to fruition and as president and CEO over the past four years or so, Mr. Ramsey said. Early in his career when Mann was new at offering broccoli florets, Joe Nucci took on the task of finding a use for the leftover broccoli stems. The result was broccoli cole slaw.
"It was Joe that put the impetus into it (broccoli coleslaw)," Mr. Ramsey said. "He was excellent in marketing."
Mr. Ramsey, who knew Mr. Nucci for all his 40 years, said that Mr. Nucci changed the company for the better. "He could have failed just as easily as not," Mr. Ramsey said. "We're very proud of his accomplishments. He's been a standout in the industry."
Mr. Ramsey said that while Mann will continue to do well as a company, "You never replace a loss like this."
Mr. Nucci served for three years on the board of directors of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, leaving the board in May. Jim Bogart, president of Grower-Shipper, said Mr. Nucci was "positive, upbeat and encouraging" and a visionary in the produce industry.
"He was a creative, proactive type," Mr. Bogart said. "That's what I'll always remember. He was a pleasure to work with and to know; it's a personal loss."
Mr. Nucci was secretary-treasurer on the board of directors of the Produce Marketing Association. He had first been on PMA's divisional board for three years, on the main board of directors for the past six or seven years and was on track to become its chairman in October 2006. PMA President Bryan Silbermann said Mr. Nucci was "always a real treat" and was forthright. "He'd sit down with board members and say things as he saw them," Mr. Silbermann said. The maturity Mr. Nucci gained in leading Mann in recent years was evident, he said.
Mr. Silbermann, who turned 50 about the time Mr. Nucci turned 40, said he found it difficult to reconcile his own accomplishments with all that Mr. Nucci had accomplished.
"Joe was always thinking about the future and how to make Mann better," Mr. Silbermann said. He noted that the late David Stidolph -- well acknowledged as a produce industry innovator -- helped spark Mr. Nucci's bent toward innovation. Years ago, Mr. Stidolph laid the groundwork for Mann's foray into carrying sweet potatoes, which became a reality recently under Mr. Nucci's leadership. Mr. Silbermann said Mr. Nucci liked to refer to himself as a "down in the dirt grower-shipper guy" and that his knowledge of growing and marketing was a dynamic combination.
Lisa McNeece, vice president of foodservice and industrial sales for Bakersfield, CA-based Grimmway Farms, said Mr. Nucci was a valued friend and a good customer for the past 15 years.
Ms. McNeece, who is on PMA's main board of directors, credited Mr. Nucci with her hooking up with PMA. "He told me how important it is to be involved," Ms. McNeece said.
Ms. McNeece said Mr. Nucci helped her build Grimmway's industrial business and was her first account in that realm. In the early days of that relationship, Grimmway used to send "one or two pallets a week" of bulk carrots to Mann; today, Grimmway sends "a truckload a day" to Mann, she said. Ms. McNeece said she's never had a contract with Mann in 15 years and that business with Mr. Nucci was transacted by handshake. "We felt our word was good enough," Ms. McNeece said. "I will miss Joe dearly."
Frank Padilla, assistant vice president of fresh foods for Costco, said Mr. Nucci was instrumental in developing specialty packs for use in Costco. The packs included elements such as wax-impregnated boxes, breathable films and membranes, and incorporated graphics and recipes.
"He (Mr. Nucci) was going in uncharted waters with Costco," Mr. Padilla said. "It was something he took on himself."
Mr. Padilla said his "personal relationship (with Mr. Nucci) was much stronger than business" and that his contracts with Mann have been "on our word." He said Mr. Nucci was "extremely responsible" and that he "was going to do what was right and what was fair."
Steve Junqueiro, vice president of operations for Modesto, CA-based Save Mart Supermarkets and PMA's chairman of the board, said Mr. Nucci "was a good friend and an incredible member of the produce industry." He said tht when he conducted business with Mr. Nucci on behalf of Save Mart, it was always "a handshake and a team effort to grow the business."
Mr. Junqueiro added, "I don't think I've ever witnessed his (Mr. Nucci's) level of participation on the PMA board."
Mr. Nucci also served with United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, Produce ror Better Health Foundation and the International Fresh-cut Produce Association. He was a volunteer with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and was active in youth sports.
Mr. Nucci leaves behind his wife, Debbie Nucci; his sons, Matthew, 11, and Michael (Milo) 5; his father, Don Nucci; his mother, Barbara Manning; and his sisters, Lorri Koster, Dee Dee Reyna and Gina Nucci.
Funeral announcements will be forthcoming from Struve and Laporte Funeral Chapel, Salinas, CA, at 831/424-0311 (www.struveandlaporte.com). Mann Packing has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ronald McDonald House at Lucille Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University.
