A.J. Trucco Inc. | US Dried Fig Import Data

Updated: June 15, 2025 | Source: TurkExim | Page ID: PNUM6956

A.J. Trucco Inc. is a leading importer and distributor of fresh produce, dried fruits, and specialty agricultural products based in the United States of America. With over 80 years of continuous operation, the company has established itself as one of the most experienced and trusted names in the U.S. produce import industry. Headquartered at the NYC Terminal Market in the Bronx, New York (343-344 NYC Terminal Market, Bronx, NY 10474), A.J. Trucco operates from the historic Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market — the largest wholesale produce market in the world by volume, handling approximately 3 billion pounds of produce annually. The company specializes in sourcing high-quality fruits, vegetables, and specialty products from premier growing regions around the globe, with particular expertise in dried figs, chestnuts, blueberries, kiwi, and a diverse range of fresh and dried fruit products.

A.J. Trucco Inc.'s import portfolio is anchored by its dried fig business, which represents one of the company's most significant and long-standing product lines. Dried figs are imported primarily from the Mediterranean region — especially Greece (Kalamata), Turkey, and California — and distributed to major U.S. retailers, specialty food stores, and food service operators nationwide. The company's deep expertise in dried figs encompasses knowledge of varieties (Smyrna/Calimyrna, Mission, Kadota, Adriatic), grading standards, packaging formats, and the seasonal supply dynamics that characterize the global fig trade. Beyond dried figs, the company's product range extends to fresh figs (during the limited summer-fall season), chestnuts (a seasonal specialty with peak demand from October through January), blueberries, kiwi, and other fresh and dried fruit products sourced from leading growing regions in Europe, South America, New Zealand, and domestic U.S. producers.

Company Overview: A.J. Trucco Inc.

A.J. Trucco Inc. is a family-rooted American company with a heritage spanning more than eight decades in the produce import and distribution business. Founded in the early 20th century, the company has navigated through dramatic transformations in the U.S. food industry — from the pre-refrigeration era of limited seasonal availability to today's globalized supply chain that delivers year-round access to produce from every continent. This longevity is exceptional in an industry known for high turnover and consolidation, and it reflects the company's ability to adapt to changing market conditions, regulatory environments, and consumer preferences while maintaining its core commitment to product quality and customer service.

The company operates as a full-service import and distribution entity, managing the complete supply chain from overseas procurement through U.S. customs clearance, cold chain logistics, quality inspection, and final delivery to wholesale and retail customers. A.J. Trucco's business model combines the functions of importer of record, customs broker coordination, produce wholesaler, and specialty distributor — a vertically integrated approach that provides end-to-end control over product quality, traceability, and delivery reliability. As the importer of record, A.J. Trucco is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable U.S. federal regulations, including FDA food safety requirements, USDA plant health regulations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection entry procedures.

A.J. Trucco Inc. is recognized across the industry for several distinctive competencies that differentiate it from commodity produce importers. First, its specialization in niche and seasonal products — particularly dried figs, chestnuts, and specialty berries — requires deep product knowledge, established relationships with specific overseas growers and processors, and expertise in handling products with unique storage and shelf-life requirements. Second, its commitment to quality and sustainability drives sourcing decisions that prioritize grower partnerships with demonstrated agricultural best practices, environmental stewardship, and fair labor standards. Third, its location at the NYC Terminal Market provides immediate access to the largest concentration of produce buyers on the U.S. East Coast, enabling same-day distribution to customers throughout the New York metropolitan area and efficient logistics connections to markets across the eastern seaboard and beyond.

Product Portfolio and Specializations

A.J. Trucco Inc.'s product portfolio encompasses a carefully curated selection of fresh produce, dried fruits, and specialty agricultural products. Unlike broad-line produce distributors that carry hundreds of commodity SKUs, A.J. Trucco focuses on a targeted range of products where its deep expertise, established sourcing relationships, and specialized handling capabilities create a defensible competitive advantage. The company's key product categories are as follows:

The company's specialization in chestnuts is a particularly noteworthy differentiator. Chestnuts are a high-value, labor-intensive, and logistically challenging product that requires specific temperature and humidity conditions to maintain quality during storage and transport — chestnuts are prone to mold, drying, and internal breakdown if not handled properly. A.J. Trucco's decades of experience with chestnut sourcing, cold chain management, and quality grading enable it to deliver consistently high-quality chestnuts during the critical holiday season (October through January), when consumer demand peaks for roasting and traditional holiday recipes. The company sources chestnuts from multiple origins — Italian Marrone di Castel del Monte (a premium cultivar from Apulia), Chinese chestnuts (the world's largest production), Korean chestnuts (valued for their sweet flavor), and Portuguese chestnuts — providing supply security and variety to meet different customer requirements and price points.

Dried Fig Import Operations

Dried figs represent the cornerstone of A.J. Trucco Inc.'s import business, and the company is widely recognized as one of the premier dried fig importers in the United States. The global dried fig trade is concentrated in a small number of producing countries, with Turkey, Greece, and California accounting for the vast majority of world production. Turkey is the world's largest producer and exporter of dried figs, with annual production exceeding 80,000 metric tons and primary growing regions in the Aydin and Izmir provinces of western Anatolia. Greece, particularly the Kalamata region in the southern Peloponnese, is the second-largest Mediterranean producer, known for premium Smyrna-type figs with distinctive flavor characteristics. California produces approximately 30,000 metric tons of dried figs annually, primarily in the San Joaquin Valley, with the Black Mission and Calimyrna varieties dominating production.

A.J. Trucco's dried fig sourcing strategy leverages relationships with established exporters in each of these key producing regions. The documented bill of lading from November 2016 illustrates the company's Greek supply channel, with Agrexpo S.A. — a major Greek agricultural export cooperative based in Kalamata — serving as the shipper. Agrexpo S.A. (Agricultural Exports of Greece) is one of Greece's leading exporters of dried fruits and produce, operating from the Kalamata region which has been a center of fig cultivation for millennia. The Kalamata figs sourced through Agrexpo are Smyrna-type figs (Ficus carica var. smyrna), which require caprification (pollination by the fig wasp Blastophaga psenes through the inedible capriffig) to develop fruit — a biological requirement that distinguishes Smyrna-type figs from common figs that develop parthenocarpically (without pollination).

The quality parameters that A.J. Trucco evaluates in its dried fig procurement include: fruit size (measured by count per kilogram or per pound, with larger figs commanding premium prices — typical grades range from 32–40 count/kg for jumbo to 70–90 count/kg for small); moisture content (target 20–24% for optimal texture and shelf life, with higher moisture causing mold risk and lower moisture resulting in excessively dry, hard fruit); color (light golden-amber for Smyrna/Calimyrna types, deep purple-black for Mission types); intactness (percentage of whole, unbroken fruit versus splits and fragments); and absence of defects including insect damage, mold, souring, and foreign material. The company applies these quality standards consistently across its sourcing channels and can provide product specifications and grading details to customers upon request.

Bill of Lading Analysis and Shipping Details

The following bill of lading (B/L) documents a specific dried fig import shipment received by A.J. Trucco Inc. from Agrexpo S.A. in Kalamata, Greece. This B/L record, dated November 26, 2016, provides detailed operational insight into the company's import logistics, shipping routes, and supply chain structure for Mediterranean dried figs.

Several aspects of this B/L warrant analysis. First, the consignee is listed as T.H. Weiss at a Lawrence, NY address, while the notify party is A.J. Trucco Inc. at the NYC Terminal Market. This arrangement — where the consignee differs from the notify party — is common in the produce import industry and may reflect a customs brokerage or receiving agent arrangement. T.H. Weiss likely serves as the customs entry filer or receiving warehouse that handles the physical unloading and customs clearance process, while A.J. Trucco Inc. as the notify party receives the arrival notification and coordinates the downstream distribution from the Terminal Market. This separation of functions allows for more efficient logistics operations, with the customs clearance handled by specialists near the port while the commercial distribution is managed from the Terminal Market.

Second, the shipping route from Piraeus, Greece to the Port of New York/Newark represents the primary Mediterranean-to-U.S. East Coast trade lane for dried fruit and produce imports. Piraeus is Greece's largest port and the primary export gateway for Greek agricultural products. The shipment transits the Mediterranean Sea, exits through the Strait of Gibraltar, and crosses the Atlantic Ocean to arrive at the Port of New York and New Jersey — the largest port on the U.S. East Coast and the second-largest container port in the United States. The vessel ZIM Tarragona, operated by ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (one of the world's top-10 container carriers), provides regular liner service on this trade route with transit times of approximately 15–20 days depending on the specific routing and port calls.

Third, the shipment volume of 16,537 kg (1,617 packages) represents a substantial but not container-maximizing load, suggesting either a less-than-containerload (LCL) shipment or a full container load with remaining capacity allocated to other commodities. The average package weight of approximately 10.2 kg per package is consistent with standard dried fig export cartons, which typically contain 12.5 kg (metric carton) or 10 kg net weight of dried figs per carton, with the additional weight representing packaging material and any palletization materials.

HTS Classification and U.S. Customs Tariff

The dried figs imported by A.J. Trucco Inc. are classified under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) of the United States within Chapter 20 (Preparations of Vegetables, Fruit, Nuts, or Other Plant Parts). The specific HTS code referenced in the bill of lading is HTS 2005, which covers "Other prepared or preserved vegetables, not frozen or dried, other than products of heading 2006." However, it should be noted that this classification may require verification, as dried figs in their natural state (without added sugar or processing beyond drying) are more commonly classified under HTS 0804.20 (Figs, fresh or dried) within Chapter 08 (Edible Fruit and Nuts). The distinction between HTS 0804.20 and HTS 2005 depends on the specific processing applied to the figs:

A significant advantage for A.J. Trucco Inc.'s dried fig import operations is that naturally dried figs (HTS 0804.20.40) enter the United States duty-free under the general rate. This zero-duty treatment applies to dried figs from all source countries, including Greece and Turkey, without requiring preferential trade agreement qualification. Duty-free status substantially improves the competitive position of imported dried figs relative to other dried fruit categories (such as dried apricots from HTS 0813.10, which may carry a duty rate of 29.8 cents/kg) and enhances the economic viability of the import business. For the documented shipment of 16,537 kg of dried figs valued at an estimated $60,000–80,000 CIF, the duty-free classification represents a saving of approximately $3,500–$4,600 compared to a hypothetical 5–6% duty rate.

U.S. Dried Fig Market Overview

The United States dried fig market is a mature but stable segment of the broader U.S. dried fruit industry, which is valued at approximately $1.5 billion annually. Dried fig consumption in the U.S. is estimated at approximately 15,000–20,000 metric tons per year, with California domestic production meeting roughly 50–60% of total demand and imports (primarily from Turkey and Greece) supplying the remaining 40–50%. Turkey is the largest source of imported dried figs, accounting for approximately 60–70% of U.S. import volume, followed by Greece at 15–20% and smaller volumes from Syria, Iran, and other Mediterranean countries.

The U.S. dried fig market is characterized by several distinct demand segments. The retail grocery segment — including supermarkets, natural/organic food stores, and specialty gourmet shops — represents the largest channel by volume, driven by consumer demand for healthy snack alternatives, natural sweeteners, and Mediterranean diet ingredients. The baking and food processing segment uses dried figs as ingredients in fig cookies (notably Fig Newtons and similar products), granola bars, trail mix, artisan breads, and confectionery products. The food service segment — including restaurants, caterers, and institutional dining — uses dried figs in salads, cheese plates, dessert preparations, and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. The specialty and gift segment encompasses premium packaged figs in decorative boxes and gift assortments, particularly during the holiday season (November–January).

Consumer trends favoring dried fig consumption include the growing popularity of the Mediterranean diet, which has been consistently ranked as the #1 overall diet by U.S. News & World Report for multiple consecutive years; increasing consumer preference for whole-food, minimally processed snacks as alternatives to refined-sugar confectionery; the plant-based and natural foods movement that values traditional, minimally processed fruit products; and the expanding Mediterranean and Middle Eastern culinary influence in American restaurant culture, which features dried figs in both savory and sweet applications. These trends have supported steady demand growth of approximately 2–4% annually for dried figs, outpacing many other dried fruit categories.

NYC Terminal Market and Distribution Infrastructure

A.J. Trucco Inc.'s location at the NYC Terminal Market (Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market) in the Bronx is a cornerstone of its competitive position in the U.S. produce distribution landscape. The Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market, operated by the Hunts Point Produce Cooperative Association since 1967, is the largest wholesale produce market in the world by volume and revenue. The 329-acre facility in the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx handles approximately 3 billion pounds of fresh produce annually, with an estimated market value exceeding $2 billion. Over 60 produce wholesalers, distributors, and receivers operate from the market, serving the New York metropolitan area — the largest consolidated metropolitan region in the United States with a population exceeding 20 million — and providing distribution reach to the entire U.S. East Coast.

For A.J. Trucco Inc., the Terminal Market location provides several strategic advantages. First, immediate proximity to customers — the company's stalls at 343-344 NYC Terminal Market place it within a few hundred feet of hundreds of produce buyers who visit the market daily for early-morning purchasing, enabling same-day fulfillment of orders and direct face-to-face relationships with customers. Second, logistics connectivity — the Terminal Market is served by direct access to the Sheridan Expressway (I-895) and the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95), providing efficient trucking routes to the regional highway network. The market is also within 5 miles of the Port of New York and New Jersey's marine terminals, minimizing drayage costs and transit times for imported containers. Third, cold chain infrastructure — the Terminal Market provides centralized refrigerated warehousing, ripening rooms, and temperature-controlled handling facilities that are essential for maintaining the quality of perishable produce and temperature-sensitive dried fruit products during storage and distribution.

Beyond the NYC Terminal Market, A.J. Trucco Inc. leverages the broader New York metropolitan area's position as the primary gateway for Mediterranean and European produce imports to the United States. The Port of New York and New Jersey handles approximately 35% of all U.S. containerized imports and is the dominant entry point for East Coast produce shipments from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The port's proximity to the Terminal Market — combined with efficient customs processing, cold chain logistics providers, and FDA inspection facilities — creates an integrated import-to-distribution pipeline that enables A.J. Trucco to clear, inspect, and distribute imported dried figs and produce within 24–48 hours of vessel arrival, minimizing dwell time and preserving product freshness and quality.

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