Fresh From the Farm, Direct to You

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Turn off the alarm clock and sleep in. Your weekly early morning dash to the Farmer's Market for fresh salad greens and pasture-raised eggs has just ended. Beginning today, timed to the arrival of the summer's bounty of fruits and vegetables, leading online grocer FreshDirect will double its local offerings to include more than 350 products during the peak season, from more than 30 farmers and suppliers within 300 miles of New York City.

"We've traveled locally to find small-scale producers and family-run businesses that offer the freshest, most delicious, highest-quality food direct from the farm." said Monica Woo, Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer, FreshDirect. "At FreshDirect, our criteria for the local products are that they must not only be good for our customers, but also good for local farmers and good for our environment, too."

FreshDirect's fresh selection of local fruit, vegetables, dairy, cheese, grass-fed beef, seafood, bakery, and specialty products such as beer and wine can now be delivered to your door, many within 48 hours of being picked.

For FreshDirect, local means within 300 miles of FreshDirect and clear traceability of the products. On a daily basis, their trucks will pick-up seasonal products from farms out on Long Island, meaning you can have produce picked from the land and onto your table within 48 hours. Other products come from Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and the Hudson Valley, as well as cheese from Vermont.

FreshDirect believes in supporting local producers and cares about their community. All of the farms and purveyors have been visited by the FreshDirect team, where they have formed personal relationships. And whenever possible, FreshDirect places emphasis on small-batch or small-scale and family-owned and run companies.

Now you can get your pasture-raised eggs without waking up at the crack of dawn to get the goods at market. FreshDirect comes to you, on your time, offering everything and more than at the farmer's market. Customers will be able to order hormone-free, antibiotic-free dairy from Ronnybrook Farm, Constant Bliss Cheese from Jasper Hill Farms, grass-fed beef from Hardwick Beef, Long Island wines, Ommegang beer, new offerings from FreshDirect favorite Satur Farms, fresh fruit pies hand-made locally by Breezy Hill Orchards, fresh Long Island seafood, packaged goods with locally-sourced ingredients, and when it's time, local corn from Altobelli Farms.

New site features on the local page include an interactive map of all of the farms that lets you shop by proximity, as well as sweepstakes and discounts. And throughout the summer FreshDirect's weekly newsletter 'What's Good' will feature letters from the farmers themselves.

About FreshDirect

FreshDirect is one of the nation's leading online food brands and grocery providers, known for its convenient home delivery service and the manufacture of fresh, delicious food. Changing the way customers shop for groceries since 2002, the company uses a direct distribution model with in-house, overnight production that cuts out the middleman and helps FreshDirect offer farm-fresh food at prices up to 20% lower than conventional grocery stores. Every product is 100% satisfactory guaranteed, every time. Thanks to expert daily ratings, FreshDirect customers can easily shop for best of the season in produce and seafood. Only at FreshDirect, the online shopping experience is highly personalized with smart shopping features that help customers track their favorites, remember missed items, shop from previous orders and get recommendations on new foods they might like. FreshDirect has also teamed up with top New York City chefs and restaurants to bring customers quick, restaurant-quality prepared meals, unavailable anywhere else. FreshDirect has fulfilled more than 11.6 million orders to date. Their ever-expanding service area includes most of Manhattan, locations in Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx, as well as parts of New Jersey, Connecticut, Westchester and Nassau County. FreshDirect ranks 70 on Internet Retailers America's Top 500 guide. For more information, visit www.freshdirect.com.

SOURCE FreshDirect