10 feb 2025
Charting a course for continued growth with HVADC Agribusiness Loan Fund support
In a region known for its rolling hills and fertile farmland, one innovative company is making waves by bringing sustainable seafood production inland. Hudson Valley Fisheries (HVF) has transformed from an ambitious startup only a few years ago, into the Northeast’s largest land-based steelhead trout producer, proving that you don't need an ocean to revolutionize the fishing industry.
Under John Ng's leadership, HVF has evolved into a world-class, state-of-the-art agribusiness in Hudson, NY, showcasing how local aquaculture can help meet the growing demand for sustainable seafood. Since 2018, HVF has worked with HVADC through its Incubator Without Walls business technical program, its awarding of NYS Grown & Certified grants and its FeedHV program.
Recent support from the HVADC Agribusiness Loan Fund has allowed HVF to purchase essential equipment to expand its business and qualify for the NYS Meat Processing Expansion Grant Program. This expansion has increased yield, reduced waste, created jobs, and improved access to NYS-sourced protein.
From Local Farm to Global Recognition
The Hudson-based operation has achieved remarkable milestones since its inception.
In 2024, HVF earned Ecocert certification, which certifies that products are derived from renewable resources and manufactured using environmentally friendly processes. HVF also earned four stars (hatchery, farm, feed, processing) from Best Aquaculture Practices. Its other certifications include NYS Grown & Certified, OU Kosher, FishChoice Partners, along with others.
The company's steelhead trout has caught the attention of culinary experts. It has appeared on multiple Michelin-starred menus in New York City and earned recognition from major publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and O, The Oprah magazine. Perhaps most notably, Singapore Airlines selected HVF’s artisan smoked steelhead for its inflight service from the greater NYC region – a story featured by The Wall Street Journal.
"HVADC is an incredible resource for HVF and all farmers throughout the Hudson Valley," Ng acknowledges. "Beyond the incredible assistance in helping us secure grants, they have been amazing advocates for us to various government agencies and connected us with other businesses. Perhaps the best aspect of HVADC is their ability to simply be a sounding board for ideas and a source of good advice."
Sustainability at Scale
Operating the largest recirculating aquaculture system in the Northeast has unique advantages and challenges. The facility's strategic location north of New York City allows for efficient distribution while maintaining a minimal carbon footprint.
HVF demonstrates its commitment to sustainability through daily practices: recycling 97 percent of its water, composting solid fish waste, and converting aquaculture gases into greenhouse fertilizer.
“The advantage of being a large-scale operator is that we can raise tens of thousands of fish monthly without antibiotics, growth hormones, or harsh chemicals,” says Ng. “Our fish are free of microplastics and micropollutants because they aren't ocean-raised.”
Despite these successes, scaling up production presents ongoing challenges. "As a large-scale operator of a biosecure fish farm, we are challenged to find adequate water sources to enable us to grow the amount of fish we would like, which would help us reduce costs," explains Ng.
However, the company remains focused on maintaining its high standards while exploring solutions to expand production sustainably.
Community Impact and Future Growth
The company now employs 80 people and plays a vital role in the regional food system, providing pristine, antibiotic-free fish to restaurants, universities, retailers, hotels, and consumers year-round. HVF also supports food security initiatives by donating surplus products to Hudson Recovery Kitchen, and discounted products to regional food banks and HVADC’s FeedHV program.
Looking ahead, HVF continues to innovate. The company is exploring more sustainable packaging solutions and considering in-house smoking capabilities to manage inventory better and develop new products. As an aquaculture teaching facility, HVF remains committed to educating future generations of culinary, agriculture, and aquaculture students about sustainable fish farming practices.
Through its ongoing partnership with HVADC, Hudson Valley Fisheries shows what's possible when local agricultural businesses think big while staying true to their community roots and environmental values. As the company continues to grow, it's creating a blueprint for sustainable aquaculture that reaches far beyond the Hudson Valley—proving that the future of fishing might just be on land.
To learn more about how the HVADC Agribusiness Loan fund can help food producers, visit https://www.hvadc.org/ag-loans-agribusiness-loan-fund.