Virtual farm market - Westfair Communications

When Maryanne Hedrick first moved to Peekskill two years ago, she was amazed at how much tasty food was available from farms in the Hudson Valley.

“I was so pleased with all the wonderful fresh food from the Hudson Valley, I jumped right into the farmers”™ markets,” she said.

But Hedrick also found it odd that virtually the only place to buy local food products was at farmers markets.

“I thought there could be a lot more people who would buy local products if it was easier to get,” she said.

With that in mind, she started www.mypersonalfarmers.com, an online store that began business last week.

Hedrick currently works with 11 Hudson Valley farmers and food suppliers, who provide everything from seasonal fruits and vegetables to organic yogurt and beef, jams and healthy snacks. The products are available at the online store. The order can be delivered to any home, office or business in Westchester County, and all deliveries will be on Fridays or Saturdays, she said. Hedrick said she “absolutely” has plans to expand the delivery service to other Hudson Valley counties as the business grows.

The minimum order is $25, and Hedrick is offering a $10 discount for each customer”™s first order. Hedrick also offers customizable group offers.

Hedrick also runs another business that offers gourmet foods to markets and restaurants, and she figured her background in the food industry would help in launching her new venture.

All of the food comes from farms that are located within 150 miles of New York City, with the farthest in Vermont.

Hedrick has several Hudson Valley suppliers, including Taliaferro Farms in New Paltz, Hawthorne Valley Farm in Ghent, and Hepworth Farm in Milton.

Hedrick hopes her new business will make more residents aware of the variety of food being produced locally in the Hudson Valley.

“The purpose of the site is not just to sell food, but to make people more aware that the food is great here in our backyard in the Hudson Valley, and also to help tell the story of the difficulties our Hudson Valley farmers are having and encourage people to pay attention to that,” she said.

Hedrick said she only buys from farmers what is pre-ordered, so they don”™t have to take back any unsold food, as with farmers”™ markets.

She said the business has received positive feedback from the farmers she has already talked to.

“Farmers are very interested in this avenue of distribution ”¦ where they don”™t have to do the selling and can concentrate on growing,” she said.

Hedrick says she is a proponent of buying local products for a number of different reasons.

“Local food is healthier, it tastes better, it is fresher, and it tends to be safer because you know where it comes from,” she said. “It benefits the farmers and the environment. Buying local means helping, literally, to preserve open space.”

For more information, visit www.mypersonalfarmers.com.