Producing health and happiness for your body and soul through the power of sunflowers
The History
The Haight Family lived down the road from the Robb Brother’s farm since the 1960’s. They purchased the farm in 1999. After years of being farmed by their longtime family friend and mentor, Bill Plass, a discussion of a new project came about in 2012. Kevin Haight started out with the idea of growing Sunflowers for oil as biodiesel. At the time the cost of diesel and fuel for homes was on the rise. He went to Indiana and study oil making with the Boyer family. When Kevin returned home from Indiana, he started to produce his own Cold Pressed Sunflower Oil. At the time Kevin’s brother Jeff and his wife Allison were living in Virginia working in the food and beverage industry. He sent his first batch of oil to them for feedback on his biodiesel idea. After tasting this delicious nutty oil, Jeff and Allison thought it would be better suited as a cooking oil. In addition, shortly afterwards the price of fuel was dropping and the idea of producing biodiesel had diminished.
Kevin’s wife Traci who is a Registered Dietitian, researched the health benefits on the oil. We soon found out not only did it taste good but it was good for you. Lastly, we needed to see how it held up in the kitchen. Jeff and Allison tested the oil with several different cooking methods to see how it would perform. It held up to most cooking methods and was later tested at the Culinary Institute of America of America in Hyde Park to have a smoke point of 387 degrees. Hudson Valley Cold Pressed Oils was established in 2014 and its first bottle of oil was launched in the fall of 2015 Kevin & Traci started drumming up business in New York while Allison managed the company from Virginia, also selling to the DC metro area. During Traci’s research on sunflower oil health benefits, discovered it was high in Vitamin-E. It was in late 2015 she began making Sugar Scrubs with the Sunflower Oil and launched the beginning stages of HVCPO skincare line. Both families worked markets and festivals in NY & VA creating a client base in both restaurants, retail stores and households. In 2017 Jeff and Allison decided it was time to move back to New York to run the business full time. It was that year that our Sun Sticks were created and something wonderful happened that changed HVCPO as we know it today.
In the spring of 2017, Kevin planted sunflowers at a neighboring field which was located off a very well-traveled road. The field was close to the farm and we passed it every day. Once the flowers started blooming, the cars started lining up. Our family could not believe what was happening. Hundreds of people were pulling over to see the flowers. This field of flowers were for the production of our oil so we could not allow people to walk inside the fields and it was surrounded by an electric fence. For the safety of the people stopping to see the flowers, the family took turns at the field advising people not to enter and handed out mini sample bottles of the oil for people to take home. We talked to people for hours about the oil, about the beauty and overwhelming positivity of the flowers. We listened to peoples heartfelt stories of why sunflowers were important to them. It was then that we knew we needed to have a special field of sunflowers for the public to come and enjoy. Since then, every year we dedicate 6-10 acres of sunflowers on our farm to the public with no admission fee. We also allow people to cut the flowers to take a piece of happiness home with them. Every year we donate a portion of the cutting fees to local charities. Those charities have included, Sparrows Nest, Miles of Hope and The Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie. Without a doubt opening the fields to the public is the best part of our job.
In 2018 we discovered that after pressing the oil, we could make a gluten-free, high protein baking flour from the meal of the Sunflower seed. Not only did this open the door to a line of gluten-free baking mixes but it allowed us to become a zero-waste facility. That year we also released our Gluten-Free Brownie Mix. In addition, we collaborated with another New York company, called the Truffleist. We met the owner Jimmy Kunz at the New York Fancy Food Show years prior and after many talks of collaborating, out came the Truffle Sunflower Oil.
In 2019 we released our Gluten-Free Brunette Mix. Truly a play on words. It is our gluten-free version of a blondie but the dark color of the flour turned it into a Brunette. In August of 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, we released our Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookie Mix at the opening of our sunflower fields. For the first time, in the fall of 2020 we opened up a Pumpkin Patch on the farm. The farm was opened to the public on the weekends to pick your own pumpkins. We also had food on the grill and special events for the kids just before Halloween weekend. In 2021 you can expect the release of our Gluten-Free Muffin Mix, Gluten-Free Pancake Mix and new Sun Stick scents. The possibilities are endless and we look forward to what the future holds.
Kevin Haight
- Founder and Co-Owner
Born and raised in the Hudson valley, small business owner for 30 plus years. Dedicated conservation volunteer and advocate for the Arlington Central School District community. Founder of Hudson Valley Cold Pressed Oils. In charge of farming and oil production. Often found playing on his tractor.
Traci Haight
Co-Owner and Nutrition Consultant
Registered Dietitian working for 23 years in the Early Intervention Program optimizing nutrition status of medically fragile children with development delays. Owner of Nutrition Works, Inc., integrative private nutrition practice, serving infants, children and adults since 2004. Nutrition Consultant for Hudson Valley Cold Pressed Oil products.
Jeffrey Haight
Born and raised in the Hudson Valley. Graduated the Culinary Institute of America in 1996. Worked in various notable restaurants and hotels in the Washington DC region, followed by a career in food sales with Chefs Warehouse. Started with Hudson Valley Cold Pressed Oils in 2017. I am a people person and love to talk to others about our products, their lives and the world around us. I prefer not to have a title. You can find me at the farm producing our products, in a restaurant or retail store talking shop with a Chef or Owner, and on the road delivering. I enjoy experimenting with new recipes and product development. I’m the guy with the big black hat.
Allison Haight
Born and raised on Long Island. Graduated the Culinary Institute of America in 1994. Worked for 20 years in the food and beverage industry including over 10 years for renowned Chef, Bob Kinkead. Starting working for Hudson Valley Cold Pressed Oils in 2015. Along with her husband Jeff, a title is hard to come by. I am the organizer of the company. I plan on and off premise events as well as run the inside sales. You’ll often find me baking our fresh baked breads. I’m always thinking about what’s next and enjoy coming up with fresh ideas for the company. The best part of my job is working in a Sunflower field with my best friend, the guy with the big black hat.
John Haight
Claudia
Colin
Delaney
Our Mission
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