“There are many new things going on at Trucco,” said Nick Pacia, vice president of A.J. Trucco Inc., located on the Hunts Point Produce Market in the Bronx, NY.

“One is our new domestic blueberry program. We are excited to announce that this summer we are launching this program for the first time,” he continued. “We currently have a strong Chilean blueberry program, and we are now happy to offer our customers an additional supply of blueberries during June. Our plans also include an expansion of our domestic program so that we can continue to lengthen our blueberry season.”

Nick Pacia, vice president and Sasha LoPresti, director of business development and food safety of A.J. Trucco Inc. on the Hunts Point Produce Market.A.J. Trucco began in 1937 amid the aisles of the old Washington Produce Market in downtown Manhattan. In 1965, Salvatore Vacca bought the company and relocated to the Hunts Point Produce Market. For three decades, he grew and transformed the company into a successful enterprise. In 1999, he partnered with Nick Pacia and together they continued Trucco’s long tradition of importing and distributing Italian chestnuts as well as expanded the company’s list of available commodities to include kiwifruit, citrus, grapes and figs, as well as a wide array of dried fruits and nuts.

Pacia said that the company now has a new and improved California fig program.

“There’s a lot of excitement about this program as well,” he said. “It is a new era for Trucco. We are working with an additional grower and our volume will double and possibly triple this coming season.

“We also have revamped our packaging to ensure strong consumer interest,” Pacia continued. “We are going to offer a variety of packaging options, including a 12-count clamshell that individually holds each fig. This type of clamshell safely transports the figs and improves shelf life.

Another new program the company is buzzing about is its pineapple program from Costa Rica.

“This is also a first for Trucco,” said Pacia. “We have been importing delicious pineapples from Costa Rica for the past couple of months with great success. Our strategy is to expand this program in the future with other opportunities, including adding organic pineapples to the line.”

Overall, A.J. Trucco has plans in place to expand its organic line of products. Pacia said the company currently offers organic kiwifruit from Italy and New Zealand, and it is planning to create an entirely new line of organic products such as blueberries, pineapples and other items.

The company continually focuses on new and improved packaging options for its customers.

“This year we tested a new fresh and fun look for our kiwifruit packaging,” said Pacia. “The packages have new high-graphic labels. And we have a new pouch package for our organic kiwifruit. This consumer-friendly design provides health facts for consumers, and we have received highly positive feedback about the package. Because of the success, we have decided to expand this look to our new domestic blueberry program and our California fig program.”

A.J. Trucco’s traceability program has already been implemented across approximately 90 percent of its products.

“We are now working diligently to expand this project to cover the remaining 10 percent,” said Pacia.