Fresh Direct Features North Fork Produce

North Fork visitors who live in New York City have the opportunity to have fresh East End produce delivered right to their homes.

Online grocer, Fresh Direct, has spent the last two years growing its inventory of North Fork grown produce to satisfy the demands of its clientele. Fresh Direct, which has no physical stores, delivers groceries to New York City and the surrounding areas.

Emma Frelingheysen, director of front of store merchandising for Fresh Direct, said to stay within the company's policy of selling high quality, perishable foods they wanted to develop partnerships with a number of North Fork farms to sell in season products.

"Fresh spring Asparagus from Wells is always the best," Frelingheysen said.

Frelingheysen said the company has always been passionate about sourcing locally, even though the shorter growing season can cause distribution problems. However, she said, the customers care about sourcing locally and they visit local farmers' markets in the city. Having North Fork produce available to them is another venue for them to support local businesses.

The company is not only getting "great" fruits and vegetables from North Fork area farms Frelingheysen said, but the customer feedback is positive as well.

"Our customers love it," Frelingheysen said.

Currently, Fresh Direct is working with Satur Farms in Cutchogue, Wickam's Fruit Farm in Cutchogue, Latham Farm in Orient, Lyle Wells of Wells Farms in Aquebogue and Fox Hollow Farms in Baiting Hollow.

Calls to these local farmers were not immediately returned.