Author Alex Haley wrote, “In every conceivable manner, the family is a link to our past, bridge to our future.”
Being a California native living close to the Bay Area, I’ve crossed many bridges.
Some are grand, beautiful structures, like the famous Golden Gate Bridge, and some are small rickety antiques made of old wood that might collapse under the weight of my body alone. However, the one thing all bridges have in common is their ability to form connections. Regardless of their materials, through the power of these links, people can reach their destinations faster and even traverse territories that may have been inaccessible before the bridge was built.
Just as Haley explained, families have the same power as bridges, creating connections that may not have existed before and using their structure to extend the reach of those who are a part of them. And while some would apply this to blood-related families, I believe this same concept is valid for the countless businesses across the produce industry that have formed their own version of a family unit based on compassion, unity, and shared goals.
One such company is Trucco, Inc.
The distributor is a family company in every sense of the word and utilizes different materials, in the form of its employees’ experience and knowledge, to strengthen its design. And, as Nick Pacia, Chief Executive Officer, tells me, this is what differentiates them when it comes to getting the job done.
“Our company structure is a family structure,” explains Nick right from the get-go. “We all jump in and help each other when needed. If there are decisions that need to be made quickly, I have an open door, and everyone comes to my office to find a solution. It’s very friendly, and we are happy to work together. It impacts our company tremendously because, as we are so accessible and connected, everything is very streamlined.”
The first beams of the Trucco bridge were put into place by Joseph Trucco back in 1937 among the stands of the Washington Street Produce Market in downtown Manhattan, New York. The business relocated to the Hunts Point Produce Market in the Bronx in 1967, where Salvatore Vacca established it as one of the leading produce distributors in New York.
For many decades, fresh Italian chestnuts were the staple of the company. However, when Nick joined in 1999, he saw the opportunity to expand its offerings to include commodities like kiwifruit, garlic, fresh figs, and citrus.
Although times have changed and Trucco’s strategy has evolved, the foundation of the bridge connecting the past to the present remains the same: loyalty and commitment to those who have helped the company grow over the last eight decades.
“Our model is to find good partners on the buy-side and stick with them. Many of our relationships have been long, with some stretching back to when the company was first incorporated in 1967,” Nick says, laying out this simple but highly effective strategy. “There are new partners we acquire every day, but we always treat them the same, with the family approach.”
The success of this approach is not only seen in the company’s longevity, but in the tangible form of its distribution center in Vineland, New Jersey, which was constructed in 2018. As Trucco has grown, the importer found the need for its own facility to continue streamlining its business and expanding its capabilities to offer its dedicated partners.
With this 70,000-square-foot facility that offers 2,500 pallet positions, Trucco can extend its bridge further across the supply chain, connecting the gap between the growers who supply its high-quality products and the buy-side partners that get it into the hands of consumers nationwide.
“Because we have our own distribution center now, and due to the verticalization we have achieved, Trucco stands out in the industry. The way we operate and the structure we have is beneficial for both ends—customers and suppliers,” adds Nick. “We are able to control everything from the growing stages to our distribution channels and, for our partners, that means they can rely upon immediate execution of their orders. If we need to repack, we’ll repack. We are prepared at our facility. We don’t have to depend on any third party to do our work.”
“We are able to control everything from the growing stages to our distribution channels and, for our partners, that means they can rely upon immediate execution of their orders. If we need to repack, we’ll repack. We are prepared at our facility. We don’t have to depend on any third party to do our work.”
Nick Pacia, Chief Executive Officer, Trucco, Inc.
Enabling even more command of its back-end operations, Trucco recently created a new logistics arm to help its customers alleviate some of the supply chain challenges affecting the produce industry. Formed earlier this year, the division is still evolving, but has already played a key role in providing relief for Trucco’s partners.
“In the past, we didn’t have a logistics office or desk. After establishing this new department a few months ago, we’ve already seen the benefit, and we’re trying to create an additional logistics arm in the future to aid our customers even more,” imparts Nick. “Because of all the logistic issues that we’ve been facing, we’re trying to do as much as we can to accommodate our supply- and buy-side partners, and we want to be involved in the process and offer the most support possible.”
If we look at these operational developments as the arches of Trucco’s bridge, adding eye-catching designs while spreading the weight of the load, the company’s many hardworking associates are like the girders, providing the primary support for the link. As Trucco continues to grow, its need to add more employees to buttress its advancement has also increased.
“We have a tremendous team at our facility. They’re burgeoning leaders, eager to move forward, and they play a big part in our development,” Nick expounds. “We’re growing at a strong pace. So, we are trying to bring other players onto the team now. As we’ve expanded, we’ve attracted talent. We are trying to gather as much as possible, especially up-and-comers willing to participate and be part of the family we have created. That way, we can continue building on the team that we have going into the future. We think it’s important to bring more fresh minds into the business.”
Hand-in-hand, the Trucco team is planning the assembly of its bridge to extend well beyond the horizon, and each new person who joins the operation adds another critical piece to its construction. Each additional member of this tight-knit family contributes potential and knowledge to strengthen the company structure, preparing them for whatever may come. And Nick has some ideas about what that might be.
“Going into the future, I think the growth of our kiwifruit category will be tremendous. Additionally, our blueberries are a great item that has been doubling year-over-year, and citrus, which we have expanded our production of two-fold since last year,” Nick states. “We have also added limes from Colombia and Peru to our portfolio alongside those we import from Mexico, doubling that category as well. Overall, there has been growth all around, and we want to continue this pattern in the future.”
When I ask Nick what Trucco has in store to achieve and push forward this progression, he lets me in on a secret, but you will have to wait to cross that bridge. I promise it’s worth it.
While I can’t give details about what Trucco has up its sleeve, I know that no matter what evolution takes place, it will always be a family company.
I once heard that the longer a bridge is, the more structurally unstable it can become. But, I know that doesn’t apply to Trucco. Seeming to defy the laws of physics, the farther its bridge stretches throughout history, the greater its dedication, growth, and people become, strengthening and creating more connections for the rest of us. 
