Giuseppe Russo started in the Fruit and Veg business almost as soon as his feet touched dry ground on his arrival in Australia from Italy almost a whole lifetime ago. In the 1950's the original family store was opened in Clayton by Giuseppe. From that single shop the family business expanded in great leaps as his sons took an active interest by opening more stores, at Camberwell Markets, Croydon Markets, and Frankston Markets. They also opened a Fruit and Veg shop in Ashburton, not far from where one of the current stores stands.

For some time the family business involved being wholesalers and supplying fresh produce to other green grocers, including many independent supermarkets. This gave the current generation insight into the way fresh produce goes from the farm to the consumer, providing them with the kind of experience that has made Top Shelf Fruit the envy of other green grocers.

Today Giuseppe's grandsons, Joe, Paul, Dominic and Jason are proud to carry on in the same Italian tradition, working hard to give their loyal customers only the best quality foods that money can buy. These energetic young men were virtually born in the back of a fruit shop as they have always been actively involved in the family business. They remember school holidays and long hours after school eagerly learning all there is to know about fresh produce. Today they are able to give you expert advice on whatever you wish to purchase. They know exactly what a fruit or vegetable is supposed to look like, how it should feel to the touch, and what the smell should be.

Joe and Dominic opened the first store to carry the "Top Shelf Fruits" name, in Ashburton. They weren't going to stand still though, it wasn't long before they opened the Brentford Square shop and Jason came to be a part of the new "Top Shelf Fruits" family. Even more recently the Beaumaris store of which Paul already was a part owner, was bought out by "Top Shelf Fruits" with Paul becoming a partner in that merger.