Quercus Cooperage, North River Roasters, Hudson Valley Organic and Half Time Beverage also join the organization
GOSHEN, N.Y. (July 5, 2017) — Ginsberg’s Foods, one of the largest independently owned and operated foodservice distributors in the Hudson Valley, is one of five companies to recently join the Hudson Valley Food and Beverage Alliance.
Based in Hudson, N.Y., Ginsberg’s is a fourth-generation, family-owned food distributor and has more than 260 team members who believe in and share the philosophy of providing superior service with distinguishing standards from national competitors. Ginsberg’s collaborates with local restaurants and stores to help them enter the supply chain; the Culinary Institute of America is one of their largest partners. Additionally, the matriarch of the Ginsberg family, Nancy Fuller Ginsberg, currently has a show on the Food Network called “Farmhouse Rules,” and has appeared as a culinary judge on many Food Network cooking shows.
“We’re excited to partner with local companies and help in any we can,” said John Bruise, COO of Ginsberg’s Foods. “Joining the Food and Beverage Alliance will allow us to collaborate and network with new organizations.”
Also joining the Food and Beverage Alliance roster is Quercus Cooperage in High Falls, N.Y. Quercus Cooperage crafts wooden barrels and accessories by hand. Owner John Cox is a former cabinet maker and after moving to the Hudson Valley, he realized that there was a shortage of wooden barrels for the local craft beverage businesses. The company crafts a selection of handmade wooden barrels that can be used not only for industrial purposes, but also for décor.
Poughkeepsie-based North River Roasters makes freshly roasted coffee, which can be found at Adams Fairacre Farms, The Poughkeepsie Grind, Poughkidsie and Vassar College’s Bridge Café. The company will move to its permanent home in the Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory this fall. North River Roasters has a long-term vision to employ the “launch and convert” approach to the cooperative business model and to turn North River Roasters into a worker-owned cooperative for sustained benefit to the community.
Both Quercus Cooperage and North River Roasters are recent graduates of the Bet on My Business Academy, an HVEDC-developed executive education and job-shadowing program for existing food and beverage entrepreneurs in the Hudson Valley.
HudsonValley Organic is a farm in Wawarsing, N.Y., that grows NOFA-NY Certified Organic Microgreens, which have been known to prevent disease and promote good health. The Microgreens include arugula, mustard greens, broccoli sprouts, radish sprouts, kale sprouts and mung bean sprouts. The business has been in operation since 1985.
Half Time Beverage in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and Mamaroneck, N.Y., has been supplying craft beer and cider enthusiasts with an elaborate selection of beer and cider for more than a decade. Half Time’s staff consists of knowledgeable beer and cider connoisseurs, and the company offers several Beer of the Month clubs, designed to satisfy a wide variety of tastes and budgets. The store boasts more than 2,000 beer and cider varieties. Alan Daniels, owner of Half Time, was a guest panelist at last year’s HVEDC Beer, Wine, Spirits & Cider Summit, which is being held this year on October 12.
“We are thrilled to welcome these five new companies to the Hudson Valley Food and Beverage Alliance,” said Laurence P. Gottlieb, president and CEO of HVEDC. “Each of these organizations has an entrepreneurial spirit, tenacity and the willingness to help others learn and grow – all qualities that we seek in Alliance members.”
About the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance:
The Hudson Valley region boasts the most vibrant and growing base of food & beverage-related businesses in the nation. Alongside many well-known industry names and successful and growing industry players, the Food & Beverage Alliance brings organizations within the food and beverage industries together, helping area businesses forge strong partnerships. The Alliance provides access to economic guidance and marketing resources to businesses throughout the region.
About Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC):
HVEDC is the leading economic development agency for the seven-county region of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties. The public-private partnership markets the region as a prime business location to corporate executives, site selection consultants and real estate brokers. HVEDC helped start the organizational, branding and promotional effort for NY BioHud Valley, Hudson Valley 3D Printing, Hudson Valley EDs & MEDs and the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance. To learn more, call 845-220-2244 or visit hvedc.com.
