Hapco Farms

What Hapco Farms does

Hapco Farms is a privately held, fourth-generation, vertically integrated grower and distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables serving major retail chains nationwide. Founded approximately 75 years ago by Henry A. Pollak on Long Island around Long Island potato farming, the company now operates farmland and facilities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, shipping over 200 million pounds of potatoes per year from more than 62,000 acres and producing year-round across broccoli (6,000+ acres), watermelon (700+ acres), blueberries (250 acres), and additional commodity and specialty programs. Its core customer segment is enterprise grocery retailers, sold directly through a B2B field-sales motion.

The company's technical core is its vertically integrated supply chain spanning seed, growing, harvest, immediate post-harvest cooling, refrigerated warehousing with multiple temperature zones, regrading and repacking to customer specifications, and in-house transportation with a Just In Time Delivery program. Eleven strategically placed storage and packing facilities — including multi-zone refrigerated warehouses, proprietary Slush Ice Injection pre-cooling at Maine broccoli operations, and on-site carrot packing in Florida — enable faster East Coast delivery and lower freight costs than regional-only competitors. The product portfolio spans six core produce categories (broccoli, carrots, corn, potatoes, onions, watermelon) plus seasonal berries, stone fruit, melons, citrus, asparagus, eastern vegetables, and winter lettuce, with retail-facing private label brands Fresh from the Start (active 15+ years), Fresh-Sides (microwavable), and Fresh from the Start: Organics.

Hapco Farms generates revenue by selling fresh produce directly to major retailers on B2B terms, supplemented by private label and branded packaging (Fresh from the Start, Fresh-Sides, Fresh from the Start: Organics) and full produce solutions including re-grading, repacking, storage, and transportation services. It also holds a Sunkist citrus licensing relationship that supports both Fresh from the Start and Sunkist-branded shipments. Pricing is quote-based by volume, commodity, season, and customer agreement; no public pricing exists. The company is headquartered in Riverhead, New York, employs 251–500 people, and remains under founding-family ownership with no disclosed institutional investors.

Name

Hapco Farms

Legal name

Hapco Farms LLC

Website

https://hapcofarms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Hapco Farms is a fourth-generation, vertically integrated grower and distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables supplying major US retailers year-round through eleven strategically placed packing and refrigerated warehouse facilities across the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fresh Produce Distribution

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (11121), Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Fresh Produce Wholesale (Fruit & Vegetables) (AFAIABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fresh Produce Packhouses (Fruits & Vegetables) (AFAOAGAA), Onion/Garlic Curing, Grading & Packing Facilities (AFAOAGAG), Dehumidified / Low-Humidity Dry Storage (Onions, Garlic, Nuts) (AFAOAEAF)

Keywords

• Fresh produce supplier
• Wholesale produce distribution
• Private label produce
• Potato farming operations
• Refrigerated produce storage

Headquarters

HQ city

Riverhead

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fresh Produce Sales: Hapco Farms generates revenue through the sale of fresh fruits and vegetables directly to major retailers nationwide. The company operates on a B2B model providing year-round produce supply with both commodity and specialty varieties.
2. Private Label Packaging: The company offers private label packaging under brands including Fresh from the Start, Fresh-Sides, and Fresh from the Start: Organics, providing retailers with branded produce solutions alongside their own private label programs.
3. Full Produce Solutions Services: Beyond produce sales, Hapco Farms provides comprehensive produce solutions including storage, packing, re-grading, repacking to customer specifications, and transportation services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hapco Farms is a vertically integrated grower and supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables, providing year-round produce to major retail chains across the United States. The company manages the full supply chain from seed and farming through harvesting, cooling, refrigerated storage, packing, re-grading, and distribution via its in-house transportation team and Just In Time Delivery program, operating across 11 strategically placed facilities in the US and Canada and farmland in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Product overview

Hapco Farms is a vertically integrated fresh produce company operating as a single unified offering with three main brand lines and multiple product categories. The core business spans farming operations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, supported by strategically placed storage and packing facilities and in-house transportation. The primary brands include Fresh from the Start (private label for over 15 years), Fresh-Sides (microwavable potato products), and Fresh from the Start: Organics (certified organic line). The portfolio includes six core produce categories—Broccoli, Carrots, Corn, Potatoes, Onions, and Watermelon—alongside Winter Lettuce, Asparagus, Cauliflower, Eastern Vegetables, Citrus, Berries (Blueberries, Strawberries), Melons (Cantaloupes, Honeydew, Athena), Stone Fruit (Peaches, Cherries), and Local Produce. Services include growing & harvesting, packing, cooling & storage, and Just-in-Time Distribution. The company ships over 200,000,000 lbs. of potatoes annually from over 62,000 acres.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fresh from the Start: Private label brand offering fresh fruits and vegetables for over 15 years, working with select growers from all regions.
• Fresh-Sides
• Fresh from the Start: Organics

Products and services

• Broccoli Year-round broccoli supplied in Asian Crowns, Traditional Crowns, and Bunches formats (conventional and organic) to retail customers, sourced from East Coast growing regions including Maine, Florida (O'Brien), and Indiana (Vincennes).
• Carrots Year-round carrots in medium and jumbo sizes, grown in Florida with on-site carrot packing facility maintaining quality and efficiency, available January through June from Florida-grown supply.
• Corn Yellow, white, and bicolor super-sweet corn available year-round in loose or tray pack formats, including Long Island bi-color sweet corn delivered fresh to select retail banners.
• Potatoes Russet, Red, White, and Yellow potatoes plus specialty mini varieties, supported by re-grading, repacking, and next-day delivery services, shipped at over 200 million pounds annually from over 62,000 acres.
• Onions Full range of yellow, red, white, and sweet onions plus specialty varieties such as Cipollini and Shallots, supplied in various packaging options from growing locations in Canada, Georgia, and Florida.
• Watermelon Seedless and seeded watermelon from over 700 acres, shipping Memorial Day through Labor Day in sizes 28ct-60ct, with signature Fresh from the Start branding sticker as part of a turnkey merchandising solution.
• Winter Lettuce Florida-grown lettuce including Iceberg and Romaine varieties, shipped late November through mid-April to fill winter supply windows.
• Asparagus Imported Peruvian asparagus sourced from three growing regions, available in white and green varieties at 450,000-500,000 cases per season.
• Cauliflower Year-round cauliflower in jacket-trimmed and clear-wrapped formats, supplied from regional growing programs including Maine.
• Eastern Vegetables Cucumbers, eggplant, green bell peppers, and green and yellow squash offered under the Fresh from the Start label, including both conventional and organic options.
• Citrus Year-round citrus program including oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit, packed and shipped under both the Fresh from the Start brand and as a licensed Sunkist packer.
• Blueberries Georgia blueberries from 250 acres in Waycross, available April through mid-June in Optimus, Farthing, Meadowlark, and Legacy varieties.
• Strawberries Florida strawberries shipping late November through late March at 450,000-500,000 flats per season, including Radiance, Winterstar, and Sensation varieties.
• Cantaloupes & Honeydew Year-round cantaloupe and honeydew program from April through early December, with winter harvest supplied from Central America.
• Cherries Cherries shipped at 150,000 boxes annually: Burlat from California (early June), Bing from Washington (mid-to-late June), and Canadian supply through mid-August.
• Peaches Eastern peaches from South Carolina in Caro Red, May Lady, Gold Prince, Ruby Prince, June Prince, Scarlet Prince, and O'Henry varieties, available May through August.
• Athena Melons Eastern US Athena melons from May through late summer with 12% brix levels, available in 9ct and 12ct cartons and bins.
• Local Produce Program Local Produce Program partnering with local farms to deliver fresh, locally grown produce (including Long Island items), with Hapco Farms' in-house team handling procurement through delivery.
• Fresh from the Start (Private Label Brand) Private label brand line offering fresh fruits and vegetables, in operation for over 15 years, working with select growers across all regions to provide retailers with branded conventional and organic produce options.
• Fresh-Sides (Microwavable Potato Product) All-natural, microwavable potato side dish packaged in a resealable bag that cooks in minutes, designed for retailers' prepared/value-added produce sets.
• Fresh from the Start: Organics Organic produce line launched with potatoes (Reds, Golds, and Russets), providing retailers with certified organic branded produce under the Fresh from the Start umbrella.
• Full Produce Solutions (Storage, Packing, Re-Grading, Repacking) Full-service produce solutions for retail partners: refrigerated storage, packing, re-grading, repacking to customer specifications, load consolidation, cross-dock, and Just In Time Delivery from 11 strategically placed facilities across the US and Canada.
• In-House Transportation & Just In Time Delivery In-house transportation team with dedicated carriers in every growing region executing the Just In Time Delivery program, enabling faster delivery and lower freight costs, especially for East Coast customers, while supporting lean retailer inventories.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Partner GrowerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnerships with growers across the United States, Canada, and Mexico enabling direct involvement throughout growing and harvesting processes. All farms are GAP-certified reflecting commitment to food safety and quality standards. Exclusive growing partner in Indiana with 140 years of farming history using state-of-the-art practices.
• SunkistminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLicensed Sunkist packer for citrus products, allowing the company to pack and ship citrus under the Sunkist brand alongside their own Fresh from the Start brand.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Fresh Del Monte Produce: Vertically integrated global producer and distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables serving retailers, foodservice, and wholesale customers. Comparable to Hapco as a full-service fresh produce supplier with growing, packing, and distribution operations, though at much larger scale and broader category and geographic scope.
• Taylor Farms: One of the largest producers of fresh-cut vegetables and salads in North America, supplying retailers and foodservice with packaged and value-added produce. Comparable to Hapco as a vertically integrated fresh produce supplier serving major retail chains, with overlap on leafy vegetables, carrots, and value-added packaged formats.
• Dole Food Company: Global producer and marketer of fresh fruits and vegetables with branded produce sold through retail channels worldwide. Comparable to Hapco as a broad-line fresh produce supplier with branded offerings and direct retail relationships, though with deeper global sourcing and a wider product portfolio.
• Bonduelle Group: Global producer of fresh, frozen, and canned vegetables serving retail and foodservice across Europe and North America. Comparable in the fresh and prepared vegetable space with vertically integrated growing and processing, though focused more on processed and prepared formats than Hapco's fresh wholesale model.
• Fresh Express: Largest U.S. processor and supplier of pre-packaged salads and fresh-cut vegetables to retail and foodservice channels. Comparable to Hapco as a fresh produce supplier to major grocery retailers with similar customer base, though focused almost exclusively on packaged/value-added salads.

Direct peers

• Grimmway Farms: Family-owned grower of carrots, potatoes, onions, and other produce with nationwide distribution to retail and foodservice customers. Closely comparable to Hapco as a vertically integrated fresh vegetable grower/packer with national retail relationships, multi-generational family ownership, and a heavy focus on root vegetables and Eastern vegetables.
• Church Brothers Farms: Vertically integrated grower, processor, and shipper of fresh vegetables including broccoli, cauliflower, leafy greens, and other row crops serving retail and foodservice. Highly comparable to Hapco on broccoli and cauliflower growing programs, vertical integration from seed to retail, and major U.S. retail customer base.
• Driscoll's: Largest marketer of fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries in North America, working with independent grower networks to supply major retailers. Comparable to Hapco as a branded fresh berry supplier with regional growing programs (Georgia blueberries, Florida strawberries) and major retail customer relationships.
• Stemilt Growers: Family-owned grower and shipper of apples, pears, cherries, and stone fruit serving U.S. and international retail customers with proprietary varieties and branded programs. Comparable to Hapco as a vertically integrated family-owned fresh fruit grower with East Coast retail supply programs (e.g., cherries, peaches) and private label offerings.

Emerging players

• Capital City Fruit: Mid-sized Midwest produce broker and repacker sourcing fresh fruits and vegetables for retail and foodservice customers, with operations in repacking, ripening, and value-added packaging. Comparable to Hapco as a regional fresh produce repacker and supplier serving major retailers, though without Hapco's owned farming base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FreshFromTheStart
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hapco-farms-llc
• Instagraminstagram.com/freshfromthestart_
• Xx.com/FrshfrmtheStart

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hapco Farms