Foodie and photographer Susan Meisel wrote "Fresh from the Farm" to explore and celebrate the origins of her favorite New York-made foods.

"I felt it was really important for people to know where their food came from," Susan says. "There are some amazing people out there dedicating themselves to giving us the best this area has to offer."

She highlights a few of the stores and farms behind some of New York State's best foods.

Sang Lee Farms
The Lee family started this farm in the 1940s. Their primary focus is Asian vegetables such as bok choy, mizuna, Shanghai choy, and tatsoi, which thrive in the sandy soil and climate of the North Fork in Long Island. sangleefarms.com

Loaves and Fishes
Loaves and Fishes is one of Susan's favorite prepared food stores. Although they are known for their $100-a-pound lobster salads, all the food is delicious. Much of their simple cuisine is homemade, and the rest comes from only the best sources. Susan likes the bench out front, which offers a nice spot to eat and relax. landfcookshop.com

Clamman Seafood Market
As the original Clamman, the late Paul Kloster used to drive his truck to the fishing docks on Peconic Bay and to buy from the local fishermen. After he passed away, his family decided to carry on the business, and they've built it into one of the best markets on the East End. The wild-caught shrimp are fantastic, and the oyster selection is huge. clamman.com

Ronnybrook Farm Dairy
Ronnybrook Farm Dairy deserves much of the credit for popularizing milk in glass bottles throughout New York. Grass-fed cows, with no added hormones or preservatives, provide the milk. It's nonhomogenized, so the cream floats to the top, and it's pasteurized at a low temperature to preserve the fresh flavor. ronnybrook.com

Dreesen's Donuts
Dreesen's began as a small grocer with a window where kids would gather to see fresh donuts being made. The grocer closed a few years ago, but the legendary stainless-steel donut machine still sits in the window, and the corner of the current store it occupies is called Dreesen's Donuts. dreesens.com

Note: Dreesen's donuts are also available at Balthazar in New York City and Scoop du Jour in East Hampton, New York, 631-329-4883.