Remembering Peter Kopke Sr.: A Legacy of Family, Fruit and International Trade

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. – Peter Kopke Sr., who spent more than seven decades shaping the fruit industry, died Aug. 5. He was 89.

Peter got his start in the fruit business on Pier 28 in Manhattan at the fruit auctions. He was 14 years old, working summers for his father’s company, William H. Kopke Jr. Inc. He marked prices, updated records of the entire year’s business transactions, and sent international correspondence. He joined full-time in 1958 after graduating from Brown University.

In 1964, Peter made his first trip to Chile on behalf of William H. Kopke Jr. Inc. Two years later, he knew about every grape grower in the country and what each one had to offer. He’d walk the Chilean auction piers at 2 a.m. before other buyers arrived to secure the best fruit.

Peter’s hustle brought momentum to every aspect of the business. In 1969, he brought the first Australian Packham pears and Bosc pears into the U.S. He also established the Port of Philadelphia as the company’s main distribution hub. Additionally, Peter pushed William H. Kopke Jr. Inc. into large-scale air freight in fruit. This was well before it became a standard practice for the rest of the industry.

Under his leadership, William H. Kopke Jr. Inc. grew to be the #1 importer of Chilean fruit, as well as a leader in importing produce from Peru, Argentina, South Africa and Mexico, along with various other countries. He not only led an industry — he was a founder. From 2015 to 2026, Peter led the company through various investments that added tremendous value to the business, including marketing, farming and refrigerated packing and distribution centres.

The Chilean-American Chamber of Commerce recognized him with the Friend of Chile Award in 2011 when he received a Lifetime Achievement Award for more than five decades of building the Chilean grape trade in the U.S. His father William H. Kopke Jr, was honoured with the first Friend of Chile award in 1998, and his son, Peter Kopke Jr., received the Friend of Chile Award in 2024.

Peter’s father, William H. Kopke Jr., said “family is everything,” and the company he started remains a family-owned business today. Peter Kopke Jr. joined the company in 1996, followed by his brothers William in 2002 and David in 2005. Together, they became the third generation of Kopke. The company reached its fourth generation in 2019, when Luna Kopke joined the operations department. Peter continued to work every day until his passing, staying engaged and active in the day-to-day business even when illness prevented him from coming to the office.

In a statement, the Kopke family said, “Peter will be remembered as a devoted husband, father and grandfather—steadfast in his care for those closest to him and deeply cherished in return. Throughout his life, he carried himself with a quiet honesty that earned trust and respect, and a hard-working spirit that showed in the constancy with which he met each day and each responsibility. He was a man who made everyone feel welcome. His vivacious spirit encouraged those around him to live, learn, and explore, as he did. He lived a life of kindness, empathy, generosity, excellence, hard work, and love. He taught without teaching, having a subtle way of making those around him want to be better and feel better. “

A remembrance will be held Sunday, August 16, from 1 to 8 p.m. at Claude R. Boyd – Caratozzolo Funeral Home, 1785 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations in his memory go to organizations supporting kidney or heart health, including Northwell Nephrology (support.northwell.edu) (donors can indicate that they would like their gift to be in memory of Peter Kopke, Sr., select the drop down for “Northwell Health (General)” and add a tribute message with “kidney disease research” in order to direct the gift) and the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

About William H. Kopke Jr., Inc.

Founded in 1937, William H. Kopke Jr., Inc. is one of the largest and oldest importers and distributors of fresh fruit in North America. Family-owned and globally connected, Kopke imports premium fruit from leading growers across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Australia and beyond, delivering consistent quality and reliable programs year-round. With state-of-the-art distribution centers on both the East and West Coasts, Kopke provides unmatched cold storage, repacking, and logistics capabilities to serve retail, wholesale, and foodservice customers. Now into its fourth generation, Kopke remains committed to building strong partnerships, driving innovation, and strengthening the global produce supply chain