Sal Vacca, president of A.J. Trucco Inc., located at the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market in the Bronx, NY, told The Produce News that the company would be promoting Italian chestnuts heavily at the New York Produce Show & Conference on Dec. 4-6 in New York City. The company has exhibited at the show since it began two years ago.

Nick Pacia and Sal Vacca of A.J. Trucco, located on the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market in the Bronx, NY. The company is promoting its Italian kiwifruit and other products.“Chestnuts are a huge holiday item for us,” said Mr. Vacca. “We are also promoting our Italian kiwi this time of the year. Our Italian grapes, a very popular item in the Northeast, are moving now, and of course our dried fruits and nuts are very popular during the holidays.”

This year, supplies will be tight and prices high on many items in the nut category. Mr. Vacca said it is therefore likely going to be a rough season for the nut category.

One of the primary reasons for the higher than normal prices on nuts is the growing demand for them in China. Mr. Vacca said that the country has been buying quite a few more nuts from the United States than they did in previous years.

“This situation is mainly true for walnuts, almonds and pecans, he said. “And so, for those nuts, we expect higher prices than last year.”

Chestnut prices are also expected to be higher than normal this year, due primarily to the short Italian crop this year.

“The Italian chestnut crop is very short,” said Mr. Vacca. “Italian shippers are telling us that it is about 40 percent lower than last year.”

Mr. Vacca said he feels sure that the new New York Produce Show & Conference venue, Pier 94, located at 55th Street and the West Side Highway in New York City, will be a huge improvement over the Hilton Hotel, which could not accommodate all the exhibitors on one floor. As a resident of Manhattan, he knows from experience.

“The pier is a great place, and it’s easy to access, especially as compared to the Hilton in midtown,” said Mr. Vacca. “However, we preferred the earlier timing of the show in November rather than December, because we are really busy in December with holiday business.”

A.J. Trucco marked its 75th anniversary this year. The company began in 1937 amid the aisles of the old Washington Produce Market in downtown Manhattan.

Mr. Vacca bought the company and relocated it to the Hunts Point market in 1965. For three decades, he grew and transformed the company into a successful enterprise. In 1999, he partnered with Nick Pacia and together they continued its long tradition of importing and distributing Italian chestnuts as well as expanding 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.