FreshDirect made its very first grocery delivery 22 years ago. Since then, a staggering 65,729,871 orders have been placed, giving New Yorkers access to farm-fresh, high-quality food. The impact of customer orders on local farmers, jobs, and sustainability efforts over the past two decades is extraordinary. Here’s how the numbers add up to something truly sweet.
89% of FreshDirect employees live in NYC
The largest share comes from the Bronx, our home borough. Our focus on local hiring aims to strengthen community ties and support the local economy.
24,000,000 lb
of food donated to City Harvest over the years
Leading to a savings of 7 million kg CO₂. FreshDirect is the third-largest donor to New York’s leading food rescue organization.
Additionally, FreshDirect has donated over 1,000 Thanksgiving turkeys annually over the past 10 years families in need.
2,465,575 lb of food waste diverted
FreshDirect’s partnership with Divert has reduced CO₂ emissions equivalent to 21,000 cars taken off the road. In 2023 alone, together we converted 667 US tons of food waste into eco-fuel, preventing 25 US tons of methane emissions from escaping into the atmosphere.
As part of our commitment to environmental stewardship, we recycled 829 US tons of food waste in 2023. That’s three times less than the average grocery store.
We nurture local communities by giving New Yorkers access to the freshest groceries and by championing small farms and businesses.
682
local farms
3,675 family-owned farms
supported nationally
824
local small businesses
Sourcing
Sourcing and sustainability are paramount to our approach when selecting vendor partners and product offerings. FreshDirect has been integral to the fabric of New York food culture for over two decades and we take pride in being a homegrown brand that supports local farmers, fishermen, growers, distillers, and food manufacturers, whether they are just starting out or established local favorites.
To learn more about the deep relationships we have with our vendor partners, check out Sourced, our collection of in-depth video profiles that highlight FreshDirect’s unique and industry-leading approach to sourcing the best local fresh food and products.
$2 billion generated in local sales since 2002
Regenerative meat & poultry farming
We make a point of sourcing from farms that practice regenerative agriculture, meaning they work to counter the effects of climate change by promoting biodiversity, building soil health, and protecting animal welfare. This not only supports the environment, the land, and the surrounding communities, but also creates better-quality and better-tasting products.
We commit to purchasing the whole animal with some of our regenerative meat partners, which benefits the farmers and cuts down on food waste.
Working closely with our meat suppliers and local supply chains is important to us. This enables us to set high standards and verify that those standards are being met. It also helps small farms bring their product to a larger market, easing the demands of navigating livestock processing and giving them the chance to focus on raising healthy animals and upholding sustainable, ethical practices.
Regenerative meat on FreshDirect
100% sustainable seafood
All FreshDirect seafood can be traced back to its origin. We set high standards for sustainability and only work with well-regulated fisheries and farms that raise fish without antibiotics or pesticides and use advanced technologies to monitor their health and that of the local environment.
We’re lowering our carbon footprint by replacing air cargo with sea cargo. Recent improvements make this possible with minimal loss of quality.
To us, a sustainable future in seafood requires a combination of careful wild sourcing along with responsible aquaculture farming. Shifting from the ocean to more land-based systems helps ensure that there’s enough food for generations to come.
Farm-to-table produce
90% of our produce comes directly from the farm. We also source locally whenever we can. This guarantees transparency, shorter supply chains, exceptional quality, and extends shelf life.
We have a unique partnership with Equal Exchange and are the first east coast online retailer to sell their organic, Fairtrade bananas. $1 from each bunch of organic bananas purchased on FreshDirect goes directly to the farmer.
Supporting local businesses
FreshDirect is proudly located in the Bronx, which puts us in the ideal position to take advantage of the mid-Atlantic’s vast farm network and world-class food culture. We’re situated between upstate New York’s lush dairy pastures and independent fruit and vegetable growers, Long Island’s rich soils and booming wine country, and the rolling farmlands of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Additionally, there’s a wealth of small food businesses based in New York City and beyond. We’re lucky to have access to this diverse culinary landscape, and to be able to share its riches with our customers.
Learn more: Long Island partners on FreshDirect.
In 2023, FreshDirect launched the RIPE incubator, a one-year pilot program for local food brands with retail ambitions to take their business to the next level. Each brand receives one-on-one mentorship from a FreshDirect category manager, with the aim of helping them develop strategies for e-commerce success and expanding their customer base within New York City and the tri-state area. Learn more >>
Cage-free eggs
80% of eggs sold at FreshDirect are organic.
We hold a strong commitment to the well-being of egg-laying hens. Our selection of shell eggs is 100% cage-free.
Our top New York farm partners
Cutting back on plastic packaging
We are committed to reducing plastic use. At the moment, we are actively reviewing our packaging and introducing more sustainable options. In 2023, we introduced paper packaging for our raspberries and mangos, which helped lower our need for plastic.
Fighting food insecurity
Every day, we contribute a wide range of both fresh and non-perishable items to local NYC food banks and organizations, such as City Harvest and Life of Hope, to help our neighbors in need.
Annually, our food donations add up to approximately 2.6 million meals.
Repurposing food
Our in-house prepared foods utilize high-quality ingredients, including many imperfect-looking but perfectly delicious and edible foods. Think of it as making the most of what’s already in your fridge, but on a larger scale. For example, we use surplus bananas in our bakery’s banana bread.
Keeping food out of landfills
We partner with Divert, a food waste recycling company, to keep food that cannot be donated or recovered from ending up in landfills. This includes byproducts like cuts, peels, scraps, and other food waste.
Addressing food waste at home
Because we source much of our produce directly from the farm, our supply chains are shorter, so fruits and vegetables arrive to you faster and fresher. That way, you can expect your items to last longer compared to those from traditional retail stores.
For tips on extending the shelf life of your items as much as possible, you can visit these pages:
Vegetable storage information >>
Buying food that’s in season ensures not only that your ingredients taste great, but also that they last longer too. Look for the “Peak Quality” symbol on our fresh items to see what’s at its best right now.