Richard “RJ” Durante, 38

Co-Owner, Nardella, Inc., Philadelphia, PA

June 12, 2026 | 3 min to read

SHORT BIO

Hometown: Haddonfield, NJ
Hobbies: Golfing, Baking, Writing
Family/Community: Married, 1 son, Eagles Autism Foundation, Philadelphia Flyers Charities, Sharing Excess, Philabundance, Little Sisters of the Poor, LiveUp Programs (Adults with Down Syndrome) and PALS (Children with Down Syndrome)
Motto in life: Let your quiet kindness be your loudest legacy.

Durante began his produce career in 2015 when he joined his family’s business, Nardella Inc., after stepping back from pediatric nursing at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Following the same path as his father, he started as a porter/selector, learning the business from the ground up. Determined to understand every facet of the operation, he advanced to warehouse supervisor in 2017, while also cross-training in cashiering, ticketing and order reconciliation.

In 2018, he moved into an assistant sales role and, drawing on his background as a registered nurse with a minor in microbiology, became the company’s director of food safety. In 2019, Durante became a full salesman while continuing to lead food safety and support weekend operations as a warehouse supervisor. In 2023, he added payroll administration and Teamsters liaison responsibilities, and in 2024, he was invited to join the company’s ownership group. In 2025, he received vendor recognition for sales performance. In 2026, he became vice president of the Philadelphia Produce Credit Bureau and was selected to serve on the Philadelphia Produce Market’s Union Negotiation Board.

Today, he continues to maintain responsibilities across sales, food safety, payroll, labor relations, operations and ownership, while still working Sundays hands-on in the warehouse unloading trucks and pulling orders.

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

Just how much the produce industry depends on adaptability. No two days are the same, and the challenges constantly fluctuate. Markets change, weather changes, product quality changes, trucks are delayed, and customers require immediate attention. All these problems must be solved in real time.

Coming from healthcare, I understood responsibility and urgency, but produce taught me a different kind of resilience. I learned that success in this industry is not only about knowing the product, but more importantly, showing up consistently, building trust, communicating clearly, and being willing to do whatever job needs to be done that day.

Q: What is the one thing in produce that you are most passionate about?

The thing I am most passionate about is reliability. In produce, people depend on you, and your word is a bond forged in trust. Customers depend on you to deliver quality product, employees depend on you to provide leadership and stability, and vendors depend on you to represent their product honestly and professionally.

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

Earning my place in the business from the ground up. I did not enter the company directly into a leadership role. Becoming part of the ownership group in 2024 was a major milestone, but I am equally proud that I still maintain a hands-on role in the business.

I can still be found unloading trucks, pulling orders, helping in the warehouse, and stepping into whatever role is needed. That means a great deal to me because I believe leadership in a family business is earned through consistency, humility and hard work.

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

My advice would be to stay humble, work hard, and learn every part of the business you can. Do not be afraid of physical work or unglamorous jobs. The produce industry rewards people who show up, pay attention, and take responsibility.