Joe DeLorenzo, who spent his entire professional career in the field of produce retailing, died Wednesday, Nov. 12, of cancer. He was most recently director of produce merchandising and operations at Alpha 1 Marketing, which is the merchandising arm of Krasdale Foods, in White Plains, NY. He was 64 years old and a resident of Clifton, NJ.

Mr. DeLorenzo, known affectionately in business circles as "Joe D," was very active in the Eastern Produce Council for many years. He was vice president from 2001 to 2003, and was president from 2004 to 2009. He was inducted into the council's Hall of Fame in the fall of 2012, although the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy delayed the ceremony and presentation of that award until April 2013.

"He was a good person and a good friend of mine," EPC Executive Director John McAleavey said Thursday, Nov. 13. "He was a good merchandiser, a good produce buyer. And he loved being president of the Eastern Produce Council. He's going to be missed by everyone."

Current EPC President Paul Kneeland, who is vice president of produce, meat, seafood and floral at Kings Food Markets, called Mr. DeLorenzo "a longtime volunteer for the Eastern Produce Council and a great leader for us." He added, "Joe is going to be missed in the industry. Everybody is very saddened. The council lost a good friend today."

Joseph Michael DeLorenzo was born Nov. 10, 1950, in New York City. He graduated from Mater Dei High School in Middletown, NJ, in 1969, and earned an associate degree in business administration from Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ, in 1971.

Mr. DeLorenzo was a third-generation produce retailer. His grandfather owned a produce store in Manhattan, and his father owned supermarkets in New Jersey. Joe began his produce career working for his father in a family-operated business, starting as a produce clerk when he was 16 years old.

In the late 1970s, Mr. DeLorenzo's father sold his stores, and Joe began working for different owner groups in Foodtown. In 1982, he began working for Food Circus/Foodtown, which operated 12 supermarkets in New Jersey. In 1990, he was promoted to director of produce operations. Mr. DeLorenzo joined Alpha 1 Marketing in November 2004.

In January 2000, he was honored "for outstanding service to the vegetable industry of the state of New Jersey" by the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey; and in December 2002, he was honored with a Certificate of Excellence "in recognition of outstanding leadership" by Food Circus Supermarkets Inc.

His hobbies included golf, going to art galleries and listening to music --especially the songs of his favorite singer, Frank Sinatra.

Mr. DeLorenzo is survived by his wife, Goldie, but information about other survivors and funeral arrangements was not immediately available.