Hudson River Fruit poised for growth in 2026
Hudson River Fruit poised for growth in 2026
Hudson River Fruit Distributors, a leading East Coast apple grower-marketer, will open a new state-of-the-art production, packing and warehouse facility this spring, which will position the company for further growth.
Alisha Albinder-Camac, vice president and a fourth-generation member of the family-owned company, told The Produce News that the 65,000-square-foot addition to its current facility in Milton, NY, will be fully automated and include A.I. sorting capabilities to maximize production efficiencies.
“With this new technology, we’ll be at the forefront of packing,” she said. “This will allow us to essentially double our production capacity, so it is an exciting step forward for us.”
Albinder-Camac said this latest project represents the “last big step of a 10-year growth spurt.”
“In the past 10 years, we added a new farm, multiple new apple varieties and invested in our cold storage facilities,” she said. “Now with this new state-of-the-art expansion, we’ll be able to service our customers for the next 50 years – and beyond.”
Albinder-Camac said planning on the expansion began three years ago, and HRFD broke ground last spring. She expects the new facility will be operational by June in time for packing this summer.
The Produce News spoke with Albinder-Camac on the same day that new federal dietary guidelines were released, which reinforced the value of eating whole foods including fresh fruits and vegetables.
She commented that people intuitively know that eating fruits and vegetables will help them lead healthier lives, but it is nice to have the support of the federal government in conveying that message.
“This is in line with our mission to help increase consumption of fresh produce,” she said. “People are demanding better food, and we want to do our part by always providing the best quality and flavor to create repeat purchases.”
She added that newer specialty apple varieties such as Snap Dragon, Ruby Frost and EverCrisp are continuing to grow in popularity.
“The apple category is so competitive these days, but apples are still a leading driver in the produce department and people are leaning into these new specialty apples due to their flavor and eating qualities,” said Albinder-Camac. “That tells us that apples are still a core product for many people and it inspires us to deliver the best quality and flavor possible.”
