The crew behind Strock & Company

Bruce Strock

Derrick Say

Name three words that describe you.

Tireless, engaging, and dependable

What would be your personal motto?

Small numbers add up.

Describe a skill or talent that most people don’t know about you.

6 out of 7 days in the week, you’ll find me outside stomping my feet on the pavement. Never on a treadmill. Every day I go somewhere different, whether it’s on a beach or at the local trail, I need to get outside and grab my couple hours of fresh air. Rain or shine, nothing stops the legs from moving.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Take it one day at a time.

MJ Lauria

What would be your personal motto? 

Work like there is someone working 24 hours a day to take it all away from you.

Describe a skill or talent that most people don’t know about you.

Juggling.

What’s the best piece of advice  you’ve ever been given?

Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.

In your opinion, why  do you think current customers continue to do business with us?

Our Honesty and Loyalty.

Tom “Junior” Vallante

Name three words that describe you.

Organized, dedicated, caring.

What is your favorite season related to produce and why?

Stone fruit season; there is nothing like a ripe pluot or a handful of fresh cherries.

What keeps you enthused and engaged at Strock & Co?

Our terrific, loyal customers and my amazing group of coworkers.

In your opinion, why do you think a customer should do business with us?

We believe we offer incredible service for nearly 24 hours a day and the highest quality produce you can get.

In your opinion, why  do you think current customers continue to do business with us?

We are always fair, honest, and reliable. We have a truly passionate family of colleagues who care about each individual customer’s needs and will do whatever we can to meet them.

What are some causes that you care about?

Mental health and suicide awareness.

What would be your personal motto?

“Great men are not born great, they grow great…”

Who is someone you admire, and why?

My wife, because of her compassion, perseverance and unrivaled work ethic.

Describe a skill or talent that most people don’t know about you.

Skateboarding.

What advice would you give a candidate that wants to join the produce industry?

Be a sponge; learn as much as you can from everyone you meet!

Cats or dogs, and why?

Dogs, because most cats make me sneeze.

Michael Strock

In your opinion, why do you think a customer should do business with us?

Our reputation is built on our relentless pursuit to deliver excellence for our customers. We believe that integrity is our most important commitment to you because it takes less time to do a thing right than it does to explain why you did it wrong.

What are some causes that you care about?

The respective missions of Dana Farber Cancer Institute and ALS Therapy Development Institute are very dear to my heart. I believe that when the cures for cancer and ALS are discovered (hopefully very soon!), it will undoubtedly be because of the efforts of both of these amazing organizations.

Tom “Senior” Vallante

What is your favorite season related to produce and why?

My favorite produce selling season is definitely cherries from California and the Northwest. Our customers are always filled with anticipation for those first arrivals and even more so, for that first opportunity to promote sales. The cherry season is fast and furious and the stakes are high.

Although the season is only around three months, cherries are still one of the most exciting and profitable commodities for many of our retail customers. Any item that makes our customers happy and makes them profitable is a winner in my book .

What keeps you enthused and engaged at Strock & Co?

Being the longest tenured salesman here at Strock, I would say one of the things that keeps me most engaged is seeing the development of new, young talent here. Strock has always done a great job of finding bright prospects and nurturing them into produce all- stars.  Strock’s sales team is multi- generational , so there are many years and many layers of experience here for new salesman to draw upon. We have always operated as a team here, helping teach each other to be the best we can be for our customers. I truly enjoy being able to share my years of experience with new prospects. Seeing their success is very gratifying for me.

Pat Rennie

Name three words that describe you.

Hard working  honest  enthusiastic

What keeps you enthused and engaged at Strock & Co? 

trying to keep up with all the changes in the market and working hard to satisfy the customer

Michael Muccio

What’s the best piece of advice  you’ve ever been given?

The happiest people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything

Cats or dogs, and why?

Dogs, no contest – refer to Paul Owen’s poem for all the justification you’ll need.

Ashley Shoemaker Hill

Who is someone you admire, and why?

The person I admire the most is my grandfather, Ron Shoemaker. He is truly the reason that I am in this business. He started his independent grocery store 40 years ago in a small town in Indiana, and he also brokers for a few small farms in Michigan. I loved growing up learning about the produce business, and now I love being able to call him and talk shop as two professionals. He is a wealth of information and someone I continually count on.

What is your favorite season related to produce and why?

Winter for sure! The months of November, December, and January are the best for citrus! I love seeing the domestic citrus start. In November, we start in Florida, they have amazing grapefruit, pummelos, tangerines, and tasty juice oranges, along with California navels. December brings California cara cara and blood oranges! And you can’t forget about the Sumo’s in January! It’s so much fun selling all the different options in the winter.

What keeps you enthused and engaged at Strock & Co?

I love working on the market and talking to the customers. Building relationships and gaining peoples’ trust is what keeps me engaged. I also enjoying connecting with our vendors and understanding the market and the challenges that the season is having so I can give that information to our clients. Building that trust and rapport is so important, and I love seeing that grow over time.

Robert Lee

Cats or dogs, and why?

Dogs … because of their loyalty and their unconditional love they give you .

In your opinion, why do you think a customer should do business with us? 

Because at Strock we do our best to take care of all customers whether you are here to buy one package or a thousand packages .

Tom Rennie

What is your favorite season related to produce and why?

Nogales vegetable season because of all different variable between weather , transportation and border issues that can create an exciting market

What keeps you enthused and engaged at Strock & Co?

The team atmosphere in which everyone strives to make each other and the company successful

In your opinion, why do you think a customer should do business with us?

Because of the long standing relationships between shippers and customers that create a consistence of higher quality product and services

Frank Thomas

What are some causes that you care about?

All children’s causes. We must protect the children because they’re vulnerable and they can not protect themselves. This is very important since becoming a grandfather. The children are the future, and we need to take them more seriously in this world.

What would be your personal motto?

Stay out of other’s people business!

Cats or dogs, and why?

House cats. No work at all, beside the litter box.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Be good and polite to people.

Craig Wiley

Name three words that describe you?

Hardworking, loyal, kind.

What would be your personal motto?

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

Cats or dogs, and why?

House cats. No work at all, beside the litter box.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

I’m 100% a dog person! I’m allergic to cats

Describe a skill or talent that most people don’t know about you?

Surfing