Up and running in late April, FresCo’s new website, www.frescony.com, is a fully interactive site that provides produce professionals with information on the company’s line, current programs, daily market specials, the company’s wholesale and retail services, national industry reports and even easy ordering instructions.

“The purpose of the new site is to not make it easier for customers to place orders and keep them informed on current market conditions,” said Charlie DiMaggio, president of the company, based on the Hunts Point Terminal Market. “It’s a destination website, and one that professionals will want to visit daily to stay informed.”

The company, now entering its fourth year in business, has grown continually since first opening. It handles a full line of fruits and vegetables, including onions and potatoes, herbs and nuts.

“We carry about 50 products,” DiMaggio explained. “It’s important to be a full house today in order to offer convenience to your customers.”

DiMaggio noted the company is also growing its imports. One item in particular, the Haitian mango, has grown every year since it began handling it three years ago.

“This year’s movement began in mid-April,” he said. “The program sometimes ends a little earlier, but last year it ran into August. The varietal name is Madame Francique. It’s a premium quality yellow mango that predominantly ethnic consumers want, but as more of the general population learns about and tastes it, they quickly become repeat buyers.”

The Madame Francique is large, flattened, kidney-shaped and slightly yellowish on ripening. The flesh is sweet with a rich flavor; orange in color and with low fiber. It is considered one of the best mangos in the Caribbean. FresCo’s supply is produced in Haiti.

The company, which occupies units 258 and 259 in row B at the market, also began a foodservice division a couple of years ago. It continues to market strongly to restaurants and catering companies.

FresCo also developed its own logistics’ system. It has hired a team of independent truckers who service its customers, a combination of foodservice operators, retailers, including bodegas, street vendors and others, in several states in the Northeast.

“This is working well for us,” said DiMaggio. “Customers know the cost of picking up their products, and they tend to send managers when they pick up. Besides the cost of trucking products, it’s also costly when upper management leaves their businesses.”

DiMaggio has two partners, Sal Restivo and Charlie Restivo, who are not actively involved in the business. DiMaggio’s wife, Angela, works in administration.

FresCo handles California citrus and a full line of western vegetables. In addition to mangos, its import division includes Spanish root vegetables and other typical ethnic products.

“We are growing continually, but I try to keep the growth in tack,” said DiMaggio. “The key to our success has been to take small and careful steps, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”