Age: 31
Hometown: Moorestown, NJ
Hobbies: Golf, Philadelphia sports, Huge Disney fan, family
Family/Community: Married, 3 children
Motto in life: “Be a Man for Others.” — St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia

Procacci started his career in the family business in 2010, working in the company’s tomato warehouses in South Philadelphia. After he graduated high school, he worked the day shift as a pallet jack operator at the company’s distribution warehouse, GS Distribution. During college, he worked as a merchandiser for GS Distribution. In 2016, after graduating from Northeastern University with a degree in economics, he moved to Procacci’s farming operations in Florida. For three years, he worked during the winter in Florida on the company’s tomato farms, and summers in New Jersey.

In 2019, he moved to Florida permanently to continue his career working at the company’s largest farming operation, Gargiulo, in Naples, FL. He worked overseeing farm operations, in the packing facilities, and eventually made his way into the sales department where he worked for two years selling tomatoes. In June 2023, he moved back to New Jersey to start a new role as vice president of business development for all his family’s operations. As vice president of business development, he works as part of the sales team at Procacci Brothers, and also oversees the apple and pear categories. He is in charge of handling intercompany relationships and synergies between all the company’s entities.

Q: How did you begin working in the produce industry?

My grandfather started our company in 1948. He built what we are today with my father, J.M., by his side. My father, our chief executive, inspired me to join our family business. He gave me the platform to launch my career. It is this legacy, and the desire to continue my family’s business, that attracted me to this industry.

Q: What do you know now you wish you knew when you first started your career?

I wish I knew to ask more questions from the people who have been in this industry the longest, especially my grandfather Joe, who passed away in 2017.

Q: What is the one thing in your business you are most passionate about?

I am most passionate about the people involved in the industry and the relationships that come with it, especially within my company. We have some wonderful people who have worked for my family’s business for many years, and it is those relationships, along with everyone I work with, that I am most passionate about.

Q: How has the industry changed during your tenure?

The industry has changed rapidly in my short tenure. More fruit and vegetable production has shifted outside the country, there is more of a demand for organic produce, and technology has made things more efficient.

Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?

What I am most proud of in my career are the relationships I have built thus far. It takes a team effort to accomplish what we accomplish daily. I am proud to have worked with, and continue to work with, so many wonderful people. I would not have gotten to my position if it weren’t for everyone I have worked with throughout my career.

Q: What advice would you give someone new to the produce industry?

My advice to someone just entering the produce industry is to buckle up. It is a wild ride — you can make a decision at 8 a.m., and by lunch, everything can be different. Roll with the punches, and make the best decision you can at that very moment.