“We have been very busy building new programs and divisions,” Charlie DiMaggio, president of FresCo, located at the Hunts Point Terminal Market, told The Produce News. “This is only our second year in business, and like the first, it has been a very positive one.”

“We are now handling imports, and we’re taking it one step at a time,” he continued. “It takes a solid education to import fresh fruits and vegetables. Port changes are normal, so you have to stay on top of that, and we have found that some ports are better than others to work with. I want to expand our import division, but it is a lot to do at one time. We are taking one step at a time to insure that we’re doing it the right way.”

The company, which occupies units 258 and 259 in row B at the Hunts Point market, also recently started a foodservice division, which includes the company’s full line of fresh produce. It is marketing strongly to restaurants and catering companies.

FresCo also offers delivery services to its customers, who, in addition to foodservice operators, are retailers, including bodegas, street vendors and others in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other states.

Mr. DiMaggio noted that when he started his business on Hunts Point there were 45 companies on the terminal market, and now there are 42.

“In the 1960s, when the market first opened, there were more than 150,” he observed. “But there have been a lot of consolidations over the years, so that does not mean that all of those companies went out of business. Of course we’re also seeing a lot more produce items on the market, and from the far reaches of the world.”

FresCo is also bringing in a lot of new items from the outer reaches. It now handles California citrus and a full line of western vegetables from California. Its import division includes Spanish roots, mangos and other typical Hispanic products. The import program, Mr. DiMaggio said, has high volume but is a short season.

“We carry about 50 products,” he added. “It’s important to be a full house today in order to offer convenience to your customers. And we’re working on building our own logistics’ system by hiring a team of independent truckers on whom we can depend.”

He said that the company increased its business by about 30 percent in its second year. The company opened the week following Easter in 2011. At first, the company was open only during the day, but as of Labor Day 2011, it became a 24-hour house.

Before starting his own business, Mr. DiMaggio worked for M&R Tomato Distributors, which is also located on Hunts Point market, for about seven years. Prior to then he had a space elsewhere and worked his own route. Even earlier in his career he worked at his father’s retail stores. He said that gaining experience on both the wholesale and retail ends has helped him at FresCo.

“I always wanted to be on the market,” he said. “During the time I was working on the market, I was always looking for something here to own, and I finally did. I’m taking things gradually and not rushing into anything, but my business is growing very fast.”

Mr. DiMaggio’s two partners, Sal Restivo and Charlie Restivo, who are not actively involved in the business. Mr. DiMaggio’s wife, Angela, recently started working for the company in administration.

“She was complaining that she didn’t see me enough, so putting her to work here was the best resolve for both of us,” said Mr. DiMaggio.