After adding an electric truck to its fleet, South Jersey-based Balford Farms is charging ahead with its commitment to sustainability.

The company – known for its food distribution services and Rosenberger’s dairy brand – recently introduced a state-of-the-art Orange EV terminal truck to support its highly active warehouse and distribution center, which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Obtained through a lease with Penske, the vehicle is one of the first in the Mid-Atlantic from Orange, an EV manufacturer in Kansas. In addition to reducing Balford’s carbon footprint by more than 15 tons annually, swapping an existing diesel truck to a zero-tailpipe emissions truck is expected to increase efficiency with 99% uptime, according to a press release announcing the new arrival.

In a statement, Balford Farms Chief Executive Officer Larry Walker said, “This new electric truck exemplifies our ongoing promise toward being an environmentally responsible leader in the food distribution industry while delivering efficiency and safety to our workplace, and the very best service to our customers.”

Headquartered in Burlington, Balford specializes in providing customized warehousing and distribution services to quick service restaurant chains through its 60 daily routes, making over 200,000 customer deliveries annually. The 130-year-old company also specializes in marketing and distributing high-quality, locally sourced dairy and beverage products under the Rosenberger’s brand to more than 1,000 retail and foodservice customers in the Northeast.

“We’re thrilled about this opportunity to bring innovation into our truck fleet and expand upon our recent sustainability commitments and successes,” Walker said.

The company’s journey to become more eco-friendly began more than a decade ago with the installation of solar panels at its warehouse and distribution center.

Additionally, over the past two years, Balford converted all lighting to LED; started a partnership with Trenton Renewables, which recycles food and beverage waste into renewable energy, premium compost and recaptured packaging; expanded recycling beyond cardboard to include wooden pallets, stretch wrap and metals; and installed ChargePoint EV chargers for employee and guest use.

Overall, the company says the initiatives have collectively reduced its carbon emissions by more than 1,800 tons.