Michael Strock’s great-great grandfather, Samuel Strock, founded S. Strock & Co. Inc. in 1897, shortly after emigrating from Germany. Today the company is located at the New England Produce Center in Chelsea, MA.

“Samuel Strock began by buying local produce and selling it to customers from a horse-drawn wagon, and he hired a man to help with the deliveries,” said Strock. “Our roots extend to decades earlier, when the market was located at the now historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston.”

The company received its PACA license on Sept. 5, 1930, making it the oldest active PACA license in the produce industry today. Besides having the oldest active PACA license in the industry, the company has achieved the highest credit and integrity rating in the Blue Book and in other credit reports.

MJ Lauria, buying and selling representative at S. Strock & Co. Today, Michael Strock serves as director of business development for the company. He is joined by family members Rick Strock, company treasurer; Bruce Strock, vice president; Bryan Strock, accounting; and Adam Strock, food-safety director. His grandfather, Sam Strock, serves as company president.

S. Strock & Co. handles a full line of fresh fruits and vegetables and an extensive organic line. Its line of dozens upon dozens of fresh produce items is updated monthly on its website, www.sstrock.com/products.

The company supplies major supermarket chains along with independent retailers, wholesalers, restaurants and foodservice providers throughout New England. Its team of specialists consistently procures the highest quality products available on the market at all times of the year.

“Our team takes great pride in ensuring that the Strock name is associated with the best produce available,” said Strock. “This holds true with our full line of conventional and organic produce.”

S. Strock & Co. opened a banana and tropical category in 2009, which has been highly successful for the company, and has made it a true full-line fruit and vegetable wholesale distributor.

Its organic program was launched in 2007, and Strock said the line has held firmly even throughout the economic recession.

The company’s customers span the entire spectrum of buyers. It services chainstores, foodservice operators and independent retailers in New England and in Southern Canada.

S. Strock & Co. is also strongly dedicated and involved with not-for-profit organizations, including those working toward cures of such diseases as ALS and cancer.

“We feel that it is important to give back, and especially to organizations that are working toward finding cures and better treatments for some of the most devastating diseases,” said Strock.

“We also have an internal company secret,” he continued. “It is shared only within our doors, but it is based on putting customers first and selling only the highest-quality produce. Our company’s greatest asset is its reputation.”

The company has grown tremendously over the past few decades. It started at the New England Produce Center with two bays and today it occupies eight, all of which are constantly buzzing with activity.

“My grandfather, Sam, continues to serve as the company president,” said Strock. “He is iconic in how instrumental he has been in putting the company on the right path toward growth and prosperity. Things in the produce industry have changed tremendously in our more than 100-year history, but one thing has remained constant at S. Strock & Co., and that is our commitment to help our customers continue to grow with us and thrive well into the future.”