Longtime New York produce wholesaler and importer Sal Vacca, who died March 22, 2023, at the age of 93, appears to be one of those rare people who was universally respected and loved.

Trucco Inc., the importing/distribution sister company of wholesaler A.J. Trucco, which has been around for more than eight decades, first operating in downtown Manhattan and eventually becoming a staple at the Hunts Point Terminal Market in the Bronx in 1965, is expanding in blueberries.

It’s a category the company first entered about 10 years ago, and today it offers fresh, sweet blueberries from an international network of growers year-round.

Publix has been named to Forbes’ 2023 America’s Best Employers for New Grads list, ranking No. 13 out of 20 companies in the retail and wholesale industries category.

“Publix is committed to creating a diverse workforce,” said Publix Director of Communications Maria Brous. “We’re proud that new graduates want to build a career with Publix. With many great benefits, diverse career paths, company ownership and a focus on core values, we’re a great place to work.”

Westfalia Fruit started its Peruvian avocado season with supply available now through mid-September.

The company began exporting Peruvian avocados in 2016 and is now the second-largest exporter, with a presence in 15 regions across the country and a growing area spanning over 4,600 hectares. Westfalia operates four avocado nurseries in Peru in addition to a brand-new state-of-the-art packinghouse in Canete, located in southern Lima.

Salix Fruits plays a crucial role in the summer citrus category by supplying top customers in the American market with a wide variety of citrus fruits, including mandarins, oranges and lemons.

Jac. Vandenberg Inc., based in Tarrytown, NY, won the compostability category in the second annual U.S. Plastics Pact Sustainable Packaging Innovation Award. The award showcases companies that are eliminating problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging while taking actions to ensure that 100 percent of plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. Vandenberg is recognized as a business making strides to advance sustainable packaging solutions that contribute to a circular economy.