One of this area’s best-kept secrets of the kosher world is Westco Fruit & Nut Products in Irvington. As soon as you enter the building, the delightful aroma of nuts surrounds you, and your senses immediately awaken. It isn’t a fancy location—it’s an actual working factory that roasts and cans nuts on the premises. The space has an old-fashioned charm that makes your visit distinctive. The company has served the community since 1934, and has been under the leadership of the Moradi family for the past 30 years.
Yaakov Moradi has a doctorate in engineering, and was not planning on a career in the nut product business. He was between jobs and was asked by the widow of the prior owner to step in and keep the company operating while she was mourning her husband. He soon found it a fulfilling and worthwhile endeavor and offered to buy the business. He and his wife, Rivka, soon made it a true family business. Their five children have grown up in the company, from spending time in the office playpen to preparing packages for shipment, to serving on the sales floor.
Two of the children, Nate and Davidah, left their former careers (health care and education, respectively) and now work full-time at Westco. Nate recalled that he has delivered large orders to retail customers who remember when he was a young boy accompanying his father on his route.
Davidah added: “Many steady customers, locals, have come in for many years. And even call to have their favorite items shipped to them when they have moved out of state. It’s nice to have a relationship with our customers.”
With a small “mom and pop” operation, everyone does everything and there is no specialization. Every family member knows how to operate and fix the machinery, do billing and shipping, and run the business.
Westco sources the best nuts and dried fruit from around the world and freshly roasts their product weekly in-house. The difference between nuts freshly roasted that day versus the product bought in stores turned out to be more significant than I could have ever imagined. On a recent visit I had the opportunity to sample various types of pistachio nuts: chipotle flavored, spicy and plain. Asking which was best was akin to asking which of my children is my favorite—the answer to both questions is that “they are all delicious!”
They offer the best in nuts and dried fruit, as well as select chocolate and candy products. All nuts, dried fruit and chocolate are under the kosher supervision of the Vaad of MetroWest. Check out their website (https://www.westconuts.com/) to see a sampling of their tasty wares.
Better yet, pay them a visit and see things firsthand. Not only will there be a more comprehensive selection, but you can take advantage of the famous “Three Dollar Table,” where bags of assorted fruits, nuts and candies are pre-packaged and available for purchase.
The Moradis are experts at preparing hostess gifts, holiday baskets, custom mishloach manot for Purim, thank you gifts, and items for any occasion. They recently prepared a special shipment of three pitted dates per package for the Ramadan celebration for inmates of a local prison. The family can find and make anything their customers want. There is a minimum order for things they don’t usually carry in stock, but they will help you with all your needs.
Many synagogues order special items at various times of the year.
Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler, rabbi of West Orange’s Ahavas Achim B’nai Jacob & David (AABJ&D), said, “The Moradi family have been wonderful to work with for decades and are beloved members of our shul community.”
Rabbi Yosef Sharbat, rabbi of the Sephardic Shul at AABJ&D, concurred: “For so many years, the Moradi family has been providing our community with delicious, high-quality nuts and dried fruits. They are stellar members of our community who are constantly involved in chesed.”
We are accustomed to having nuts and dried fruit for snacks on Shabbat afternoon, but there are so many other uses. Davidah recommended adding cashews and dried cherries (her personal favorites) to tuna salad or yogurt. “It may seem an odd mix to add to tuna, but it works.” Rivka’s favorite dates can be used in baking and in custom trail mixes along with Nate’s favorite cashews and Yaakov’s preferred pistachios. Need more ideas? Just ask them for some recipes.
Customer service is a high priority at Westco, and the Moradi family will give you the attention and personal service that is often lacking in other establishments. Speak to them directly, call ahead, and they will be happy to help you with items that you may not see on the website.
Davidah said, “Whether you want no salt, light salt or heavy salt, we can customize your nuts just the way you’d like them.”
The business has changed a bit over time, as has the neighborhood. Red-dyed pistachio nuts have gone out of style and the warehouses in the area are now home to many Chasidic-owned businesses and factories. The closest mincha minyan to Newark airport is located right across the street from Westco, with a nice “chevra” and special kiddushim.
Pay a visit to Westco Fruit & Nut for incredibly fresh and delicious nuts and dried fruit. Conveniently located at 93-97 Coit Street in Irvington near the Garden State Parkway and the NJ Turnpike. Call
973-373-1866 for further information or visit https://www.westconuts.com
Deborah Melman is a staff writer at The Jewish Link.
