Biz Connect: Dattilo Fruit Company

Dattilo Fruit Company may be one of Main Street's oldest businesses, but what they offer up is always fresh. Started as a family business in 1929, many a Dattilo has moved produce before dawn to ensure a bountiful supply of produce for our community and beyond. From the quaint storefront and cart to the familiar fruit painted truck, Dattilo's is literally a part of the color of Main Street, Madison.

A quote hangs on the wall of their Main Street office, "Quality is remembered long after the sweetness of cheap price is forgotten." In the era of big-box store shopping, personal charm accompanied by service is difficult to come by. Dattilo's retail store combines wholesale savings with that forgotten element of charm. "We open the door for our customers, help them to their cars, and we happily replace items if they are imperfect," says Steve Dattilo, of Dattilo Fruit Company. 

Another specialty of Dattilo's is accepting special orders. "We can get almost any fruit or vegetable in the world, including organic, seasonal, and sometimes even out of season items," notes Steve. "If you have a special request, we will do our best to meet it." Shoppers are encouraged to ask for what they need. The storefront is a display, and if customers do not see what they want, it is probably in the back.

Even gift shoppers on Main Street can find what they need at Dattilo's in the form of a fruit basket. Available year-round, Dattilo's fruit baskets are hand assembled with optional customization. From large corporate orders to smaller, individual orders Dattilo's will happily deliver any size order for any occasion.

Beyond the storefront, Madison residents may not realize that Dattilo's service reach is much broader than individual produce needs. Schools and larger corporations also depend on Dattilo's wholesale and commercial operation. "Between Louisville and Cincinnati, we are the main produce supplier for the schools in six counties." And although they are a certified secondary supplier for Wal-Mart, local businesses - like Hinkles, Key West Shrimp House and Kings' Daughters' Hospital - are among their clients. The way the Dattilos see it, local businesses buying from and taking care of each other is what community is all about.

Many small towns have all but lost their treasured family-owned businesses, but Madison still has many established standouts, Dattilo's being one of them.

So, what is the recipe for 83 years of successful business in a small community? "Quality and service," says Steve with certainty. "When you're small, it's all you can offer: a good product at a competitive price and, above all, service."

Article written by Angela Elles, freelance writer for the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce