Castleton, N.Y.-based Windy Hill Orchard has found the solution it needed for fruit preservation with Chicago-based Hazel Technologies.

Bought by brothers Todd and Scott Seeberger four years ago, the apple company’s mission has been to revive an older orchard by embracing innovation, creativity, and hard work, according to a news release.

While Windy Hill does have some Controlled Atmosphere capabilities, sealing-off and treating full rooms with 1-MCP fogging just doesn’t make sense for their seasonal operation, according to the release.

In their research or an alternative, Windy Hill team member, Cody Seeberger, came across an article about a Chicago-based ag tech company, Hazel Technologies, on LinkedIn, the release said. The article mentioned Hazel and its partnerships with growers of all sizes across the U.S. and how its product provides immediate, slow-release of 1-MCP-in-a-packet which allows growers to continuously protect and preserve the quality of their fruit without sealing a room, the release said.

“After engaging Hazel and having them visit our orchard, we're really excited about the potential of our partnership and the impact it's going to have on sustained quality and sales,” co-owner Scott Seeberger said in the release. “We see Hazel as an innovator that can help us, but also a company that we identify with, as problem solvers who are always looking for better solutions to dated problems.”

Windy Hill Orchard is the perfect example of a modern grower that benefits from Hazel’s technology, Hazel Technologies account executive Joe Parker said in the release. “When smaller, more creative operations like Windy Hill are empowered with the extra time and flexibility that Hazel 100 brings – they can do even more amazing things. We’re excited to see how this partnership can make a difference in their 2022-2023 business and beyond.”

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