HRFD doubles cold storage capacity, adds solar power ahead of new season

Hudson River Fruit Distributors, a leading grower-shipper of New York apples, based in Milton, NY, recently completed a project that doubled the size of its cold storage facility, positioning the company for a successful season as well as future growth.

Alisha Albinder-Camac, vice president of sales and marketing and a fourth-generation member of the family-owned company, said the expansion of HRFD’s cold storage was recently completed and increases the storage capacity to 200,000 bushels from 100,000 bushels.

Additionally, she said, HRFD completed a 450-panel solar installation in June that will power the entire facility.

Regarding the upcoming season, Albinder-Camac said July 19 that the weather this summer has been favorable and fruit is sizing nicely.

“We’ve had a nice mix of sun and rain, and we’re expecting larger sizes on the fruit compared to last season, which will be good for retail packs,” she said. “We’ll start new crop apples on some varieties on August 10, including Paula Reds, Ginger Golds and early Galas.”

Albinder-Camac said 2023 marked the first year that HRFD shipped year round, and she and her family are looking forward to continued growth.

“We take pride in supplying the freshest East Coast apples, and we’ve solidified our status as a 12-month shipper,” she said. “We increased our supply and we’re building out more programs with our retail customers.”

She said the increased supply is in response to higher demand for apples, which is good for HRFD and the produce industry alike.

“As an industry, there is a focus on increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, and apples work especially well since they are an easy fruit to enjoy — consistent, nutritious and popular,” she said.

Hudson River Fruit will be offering its new basket design bag this season, which was introduced mid-season last year and received outstanding feedback from the retail trade.

“We will be heavily promoting this item this year,” said Albinder-Camac. “This is a fully customizable bag that can be packed as a four- or five-pound bag with any variety. We have seen great success so far.”

In addition to working to promote her own company, Albinder-Camac has worked on a more macro level for the apple industry, having served terms on the boards of the U.S. Apple Association and the New York Apple Association.

“USApple does so much for the industry in terms of helping shape legislation to guide the future of farming, and it has been very important for me from a professional development standpoint because I get the chance to get out of the small box of everyday business and interact with people in other areas of the industry.”